Excellent question! As a dentist with many years of experience in the field, this is something I have seen many times with young children, so you certainly are not alone. From a small child’s perspective, a trip to the dentist’s office can be very scary — having to lie still in a reclining chair under a bright light, with a stranger wearing a mask peering over them and poking in their mouth with all kinds of strange, metal objects. Even some adults have a hard time going to the dentist and think of every excuse in the world not to do so.

But, taking kids to the dentist is an absolute necessity in order to keep their teeth in tip-top condition, as well as to promote good oral hygiene habits. In order to prevent dental problems, children ideally should have their first visit when their first tooth appears or no later than their first birthday. After that, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a checkup every six months in order to prevent cavities or other problems but your dentist can tell you how often you need to visit. Don’t stress, though, if your toddler has never been to the dentist — just try to get them in for a visit in the near future.

There are many simple things you can do to ease some of your child’s fears about visiting the dentist. For example, tell your child about the visit but limit the amount of details that you give — leave the more detailed answers to your dentist, as we are trained to explain things to kids in a non-threatening way and in language that’s easy for them to understand. However, do answer your child’s questions with simple answers that are to-the-point — and never tell your child that something is going to be painful or about any bad experiences you may have had while visiting the dentist.

Many dentists will try to distract kids from the dental work we are doing by telling stories or engaging the child in conversation. Some dentists who work with children even use dolls in the office by explaining or demonstrating a procedure to the doll while the child watches before performing that same procedure on the child.

Other techniques that dentists who are trained to work with children use include voice control — a friendly voice that can become a little firmer, if necessary — and your dentist will most likely reward your child’s good behavior with plenty of praise and compliments. Many dentists also engage in body language, like a smile or a frown, to reinforce good behavior or to discourage negative behavior.

For children who have an extremely difficult time visiting the dentist, the dentist may use sedation to help the child relax and become more comfortable, but only if absolutely necessary. The two most common types of sedation that may be used in children are nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, or an oral sedative, such as Valium.

Another tip I often give parents before bringing an anxious child in for a visit is to stress how important it is for all of us to maintain healthy teeth and gums. Also, let children know that the dentist is friendly doctor whose job it is to do just that — make sure their teeth are in excellent condition.

You can also do a “pretend” visit at home, where you are the dentist and your child is the patient. Just be sure to make it fun and avoid making any drilling noises. You can count your child’s teeth starting with the number one, using the alphabet or you can hold up a mirror to show your child how the dentist may look at their teeth. Then, let your child use a toothbrush to pretend to clean the teeth of a favorite doll or stuffed animal. The goal is to familiarize your child with the routine so that they will be more comfortable for the real visit. Also, there are several good children’s books that give children a sense of what they can expect at the dentist’s office, such as SpongeBob SquarePants’ “Behold No Cavities! A Visit to the Dentist,” or Dora the Explorer’s “Show Me Your Smile! A Visit to the Dentist.”

Finally, as a parent you should prepare yourself for some fussing, as it is completely normal and age-appropriate for young kids to cry, whine and wiggle while visiting the dentist. When this happens, my advice to parents is to stay calm and allow your dentist and the dental staff to guide you and your child, as they are used to this behavior in the office. Together, you can work to make your child’s first visit to the dentist a great experience for everyone involved.
(Pocono Record)

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