Top Tips To Make Bringing An Anxious Child To The Dentist Easier

Most children’s first visits to the dentist go smoothly, but that’s because they’re typically less than a year old and can’t understand what is happening. It can be a totally different story just a few years later. Their age means that they cannot yet be reasoned with or made to understand the importance of seeing the dentist, but this does not mean that there are no strategies available for parents to use. 

There are a few different things that parents can do to help. This guide will take you through the top tips for keeping your young child calm during dental visits. 

1. Find a dentist that they like

While dental appointments seem like a chore to adults, they give children a lot to panic about. Being plunged into an unfamiliar environment with weird noises and sharp implements is scary, and in addition to all that they have to deal with a stranger touching their mouth. 

It’s certainly not helpful if they find that stranger intimidating or scary too. So, although it seems obvious, it is important as a parent to find a dentist that can put your child at ease. It might even be worth taking them to a specialist paediatric dentist while they are young. Finding one near you these days is as simple as googling “child dentist in East Melbourne” or similar. 

2. Be honest with them

Locating a dentist that your child will like is great for when they are in their appointment, but getting them there can be a challenge in itself. It’s important that parents have some strategies to keep their child calm in the leadup to the appointment. One thing that will not work, however, is lying to them.

Telling them that you’re going somewhere else might solve your problem in the short term, but over time it will prevent trust from forming between you. It’s better to be honest with them, but don’t feel the need to provide too many details. Giving them too much information to process can be overwhelming and increase their anxiety. 

A good line to use is to say that the dentist will check their smile or count their teeth. 

3. Don’t bargain with them

Another short-term solution that tempts many parents is to promise their child a treat in exchange for a trouble-free visit to the dentist. This can be unhelpful for two reasons. The first is simply that it might not even work, because many children are smart enough to know that if they are being offered something nice then they are likely to have to do something unpleasant. 

The second reason is that they should learn to see dental visits as part of a healthy lifestyle, just like brushing and flossing, eating a good diet, and exercising. Giving them sweet treats sends the opposite message. However, praise or non-food rewards like toys can be fine. 

Conclusion

Over time, familiarity with the dentist and their procedures should lessen your child’s anxiety, but their first visit to a new dentist can be a challenge. Use the above tips to get them in the room, and pay attention to how well the dentist makes your child comfortable and earns their trust.

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