How Can Your Dentist Help?
The dentist plays a crucial role in making your child feel comfortable and in helping ease their anxiety. First and foremost, make sure you are seeing either a pediatric or family dentist that has experience in working with children. Dentists that are trained to work with children know how to answer questions about dental procedures in fun and interactive ways to make them sound less threatening.
A dentist that has experience working with children knows how to speak gently to your child in order to keep them calm. Speaking in a soft tone, using simple words, and being playful can do wonders for your child’s dental anxiety. Keeping your child engaged in conversation and not focused on the procedure is a common technique used by the best pediatric dentists. Lastly, your dentist can use positive reinforcement whenever possible, applauding them for their bravery and complimenting them on how well they are doing.
If you know exactly what makes your child anxious about going to the dentist, have a quick conversation with the dentist beforehand to make sure they know what to expect and so that they can plan the most effective methods of interacting with your child.