Children at the dentist

Visits to the dentist can be quite daunting even for adults, let alone for children. It’s best to normalise the experience as early as possible. After all, there’s a lifetime of appointments at Paramount Dental Sydney ahead of them.

If you’re taking your child to the dentist for the first time, or had a tricky experience previously, this list of tips to put your child at ease, may help you.

The earlier the better

There are two things to consider here:

The younger your child is when they first go to the dentist, the less likely they are to develop any phobias about it. It’s also great to have their teeth examined early on to ensure there are no development issues on the horizon.
The earlier their appointment is in the day, the less time they have to get all worked up about their visit.

Watch your language

Kids pick up on the smallest details. It’s important to keep words referring to the dentist positive and avoid words such as:

Drilling
Needles
Pain

Reenforce all the things they do well like brushing their teeth twice a day and flossing so you can say things like “Aren’t you excited to show off all your hard work to Dr. Amrin?”. This turns their visit into an achievement, rather than a chore or something scary.

Role play

Children love to play dressups and make-believe. Encourage a game of “visiting the dentist”. Be sure to make it fun and light-hearted.

Your children trust you the most and if you pretend to be the dentist in the game you’re subconsciously instilling a sense of trust.

Try and keep the same dentist

If you and your child have had a good experience with a dentist, try and stick with them so your child can continue having positive interactions. A dental visit over time will feel like a trip to the supermarket.

No bribes

A bribe for good behaviour might feel like a good idea at the time but it can actually create issues for future visits. Knowing that if they calm down after tears or a tantrum they’ll get a treat may even encourage them to fake a tantrum. It can also encourage the consumption of lollies and sugar (which might have them visiting the dentist a lot more in the long run).

Have something to eat

There’s an assumption that you shouldn’t eat until after your dental visit, which isn’t correct. Letting them eat beforehand will get rid of any ‘hangry’ feelings a lessen the chance for tantrums.

The above suggestions should help but rest assured, at Paramount Dental Sydney, the team will do everything they can to ensure your little ones have the best possible dental experience.