Helping Your Child Overcome Dental Anxiety

The dentist office can be an intimidating place for many patients, and even more so for children, who can be scared by the gloved hands, bright lights, and strange equipment. Very young children might also be scared because they don’t know what to expect. Fortunately, parents can do a lot to soothe these fears so that when the time comes to visit your dentist at Carlsbad Coastal Dental in Carlsbad, CA, your little one might not be so nervous.

Start early

According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), children should have their first dental visit by their first birthday. Getting your child to the dentist early introduces them to the dental environment and gives them a chance to understand what the dentist office is for and what happens there; it helps them get more comfortable in that environment to prepare for future visits. Early visits have an added benefit of allowing you, the parents, to become more comfortable with the dental team as well.

Make it fun

To prepare for the first appointment, consider doing some role play at home. Pretend to be the dentist and go through the “routine” at the dentist office, showing your child what it might feel like in the dentist chair, with someone poking around in their mouth. You can even switch roles and let him or her play dentist as well. Because the experience is being introduced to them in a familiar and comfortable place, their home, it should make them feel more at ease when they go through the real thing.

Keep secrets

If you have dental fears or anxieties of your own, keep them to yourself for now. Often, if a parent is afraid of something, their child will be, too. In addition to this, try to avoid making the dentist sound scary or intimidating – don’t use words like “shot” or “pain” and don’t share any bad experiences you may have had.

Talk about it

If your child’s first dental visit didn’t go very smoothly and he or she is now apprehensive about returning, let us know ahead of time at Carlsbad Coastal Dental. That will help us prepare for your visit and work with your child to overcome their fear.

Visit regularly

Like with anything else, the more often you visit the dentist, the easier each visit will get. By keeping the recommended two dental visits a year, you will not only be aiding your child’s oral health, but you will be getting them more comfortable with visiting the dentist and fostering good habits.

Schedule your appointment at Carlsbad Coastal Dental in Carlsbad, CA today.