Making Your Children's Dentist Experience a Positive One
For a child the thought of visiting a dentist could be a very scary one. Children's dentists or pediatric dentists play an important role in making a child feel at ease when he/she comes for a dental check-up. A child would express its fear and anxiety in a number of ways and it's important for parents and children's dentists to recognize the manifestation of the child's fear and deal with it patiently. While some kids might just withdraw and silently bear the fear within, some might yell and cry or display temper tantrums.
As a parent you need to inform your child about the basics of oral health and tell him that he would need to visit the dentist. Save all complex details to be explained by the children's dentist. They are trained to explain the processes to children in simple language and in a non-threatening way. Some of the techniques followed by children's dentists to ease a children's anxiety are as follows:
1. They explain the procedure to the child in very simple words. It's important to explain to the child what he/she can expect during the procedure. Children's dentists may demonstrate what he is about to do on a doll or another person before carrying out the process.
2. In order to draw the child's attention away from the procedure, the dentist would engage the child in an interesting conversation or tell the child stories.
3. To encourage positive behavior in a child a children's dentist may smile, praise or compliment him/her. He may frown at the child to discourage negative behavior. Display of such body language helps in reinforcing good behavior from the child.
4. The pediatric dentist uses a very gentle and friendly tone while talking to the child, but if necessary he can use a more firm tone.
5. If the child is very hyperactive and the tantrum throwing does not subside, the dentist might use mild sedation to help the child relax and feel more comfortable. Nitrous oxide or "laughing gas" is a common type of sedation used for kids. Oral sedative such as Valium may also be used.
A good kid's dentist will be successful in befriending the child and easing his fears. It's very important that your child finds feels comforted and positive in the presence of his dentist. If not, he might develop an ongoing fear of dentists and oral health care as he grows up. If you live in the Montgomery area in Maryland and are looking for a children's dentist, Potomac has several reputed pediatric dental clinics you can visit.
As a parent you need to inform your child about the basics of oral health and tell him that he would need to visit the dentist. Save all complex details to be explained by the children's dentist. They are trained to explain the processes to children in simple language and in a non-threatening way. Some of the techniques followed by children's dentists to ease a children's anxiety are as follows:
1. They explain the procedure to the child in very simple words. It's important to explain to the child what he/she can expect during the procedure. Children's dentists may demonstrate what he is about to do on a doll or another person before carrying out the process.
2. In order to draw the child's attention away from the procedure, the dentist would engage the child in an interesting conversation or tell the child stories.
3. To encourage positive behavior in a child a children's dentist may smile, praise or compliment him/her. He may frown at the child to discourage negative behavior. Display of such body language helps in reinforcing good behavior from the child.
4. The pediatric dentist uses a very gentle and friendly tone while talking to the child, but if necessary he can use a more firm tone.
5. If the child is very hyperactive and the tantrum throwing does not subside, the dentist might use mild sedation to help the child relax and feel more comfortable. Nitrous oxide or "laughing gas" is a common type of sedation used for kids. Oral sedative such as Valium may also be used.
A good kid's dentist will be successful in befriending the child and easing his fears. It's very important that your child finds feels comforted and positive in the presence of his dentist. If not, he might develop an ongoing fear of dentists and oral health care as he grows up. If you live in the Montgomery area in Maryland and are looking for a children's dentist, Potomac has several reputed pediatric dental clinics you can visit.
