Taking Your Child To The Dentist And Reducing Dental Anxiety
Many children are naturally frightened of the dentist because they fear a dentist appointment might cause them discomfort or pain. Thankfully, as a parent, there are many steps you can take to encourage your child to visit the dentist without any anxiety.
At our North Sydney dentist, we are highly experienced in dealing with children and enjoy welcoming families to our dental clinic Neutral Bay. Our expert dental team has outlined some of the simple measures you can take to reduce dental anxiety and make sure dental visits are a positive experience for your kids.
Some of our top tips for reducing dental anxiety are listed below.
1. Talk positively about the dentist and don’t show any fear of your own.
In many ways, children are like sponges. If you express negative feelings or behaviours, they will soak up that sentiment like a sponge! It’s up to you to set a good example and discuss dental appointments in a positive light so your children can look forward to their appointment rather than fear it. You should also aim to explain why visiting the dentist is important and let your child know that there are benefits to practicing good oral hygiene.
2. Find a family dentist that knows how to deal with children.
It’s important that you locate a family dental clinic with experience providing excellent children’s dental care. A good dentist will be gentle, patient, and kind towards your child. Having a quality dentist is a very important step towards reducing dental anxiety, so keep shopping around and don’t give up!
3. Make dental appointments part of your regular routine.
If you visit your trusted family dentist regularly, it’s less likely that your child will experience dental anxiety. With regular bi-annual appointments (or as otherwise directed by your North Sydney dentist), your child will know exactly what to expect as they head to the dentist and there will be no reason for being frightened.
4. Give your child a reward to thank them for attending the dentist.
While over-use of treats or excessive bribing may be discouraged, it could be helpful to give your child a little reward following their dental appointments. This will help your child look forward to their dental check-ups. Some examples of rewards might include a visit to their favourite park on the way home or their choice of what’s for dinner that evening.
As a family-friendly Neutral Bay dental surgery, the team at the Dental Sanctuary provides a range of treatments to suit all types of patients. We take extra care of children to ensure they feel comfortable and welcomed into our clinic.
Whether you are looking for general dentistry, Invisalign North Sydney, Neutral Bay dental surgery, teeth whitening, or children’s dentistry, our team has the knowledge and tools to assist you.
For more information about our dental services or to book an appointment with our expert dental team, contact the Dental Sanctuary crew today. We can’t wait to welcome you to our clinic!
