Does Your Child Have Dental Anxiety?
Does Your Child Have Dental Anxiety?
Struggling to get your child to the dentist? Dental anxiety in kids is a common issue. Luckily there is something you can do about it!
Why do children have dental anxiety?
It’s perfectly normal for your child to worry about the dentist. If they are yet to visit a dentist for the first time, the stories they’ve heard or images they’re conjuring up in their mind could be quite different from the reality. Or, if your child has already undergone oral procedures he or she was not fond of, this can cause dental anxiety for future visits.
Aside from that, your child’s dental anxiety could stem from the seemingly scary big chair, noisy machines and strange metallic instruments that are not found anywhere but the dentist’s rooms. These are big things for small people.
Finally, it’s possible that you or other relatives in your family are fearful of the dentist or have been vocal about a bad experience. Children pick up anxieties from their elders and dental anxiety is no different.
What can you do to alleviate dental anxiety in your child?
Any of the above can cause worry for children, but the good news is, there are ways to combat dental anxiety early on.
- Don’t talk about your own negative dental experiences. Your own dental experiences are personal to you. Try not to voice your own negative dental experiences in front of your children. Remember that today’s dentists have improved technologies that alleviate pain and are far more sensitive to children’s needs than they might once have been.
- Start visiting the dentist from an early age. Take your children with you when you visit the dentist for a check-up yourself. By doing so, you instil the idea of positive experiences with dentists, which reduces dental anxiety due to fear of the unknown.
- Play pretend dentist visits. Consider acting out a pretend visit to the dentist to reduce dental anxiety. Have your child lie down on the couch or chair, then use a toothbrush to brush his/her teeth and count your little one’s teeth. Add some pretend equipment to the scenario – but nothing too daunting! Perhaps use mirrors or a face mask to add to the authenticity of your game?
- Emphasise the importance of dental health. You know the importance of dental hygiene, but your child with dental anxiety does not. Tell your child that the reason to visit to the dentist is to keep your teeth and gums healthy. Explain that healthy teeth and gums lead to beautiful smiles.
Don’t delay! If your child has dental anxiety, book in a visit with Robert Duhig Dentist in Sandgate, north Brisbane by calling (07) 3269 2443 today. Your child’s dental visit will be an altogether gentler and friendlier experience with Robert Duhig Dentist.