Not-So-Scary Dental Visits
By Victoria Mikota
Photo by prostooleh on Freepik.com
F or children (and adults), alike, the dentist can be a scary place to visit. Mysterious drilling sounds, gargling, and beeping can be heard echoing through the hallways, and for a young child, this can be an overwhelming experience. While it’s crucial to keep up with six-month cleanings, it can often feel like pulling teeth to get your child into the dentist’s chair. Fear not parents, we have some tips on how you can make the dentist a not-so-scary place.
Keep the Details Short and Sweet Visiting the dentist can be filled with a lot of unknowns like cavities, dental pro- cedures, or even tooth removal. In order to keep your child calm, try to use details about the visit sparingly. Keep the con- versation lighthearted and positive, and maybe even promise a fun treat after it’s all over. Choose Words Carefully Going to the dentist can be an uncom- fortable experience. Needles, x-rays,
and other foreign tools can be scary to kids. Try to avoid going into too much detail about what the dentist is going to do, or how scary some of it might be, or even saying things like “this might hurt a little.” Instead, let the dentist or dental assistant provide your child with expla- nations about certain tools, or what they are going to be doing. Bring Distractions Sometimes, anxiety is unavoidable in a new environment. To make it easy for
your child, bring toys or games along for them to distract themselves with. When it comes time to sit in the dentist’s chair, maybe provide them with a stuffed ani- mal to hug and comfort them while they meet with the dentist. Make It Fun and Play Pretend If you’re noticing your child is anxious a few days, or even weeks before the den- tist, take time to get them acquainted with some of the tools. Give your child a mirror, toothbrush, and gloves, and
14 October 2024 | cincinnatifamilymagazine.com
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