How You Can Prepare Your Anxious Child for the Dentist

1. Keep It Light and Stay Positive

It’s important that you remain calm when speaking to your child about the pediatric dentist. Making them any more afraid is not going to help anyone. Steer clear of complex language that will only confuse and don’t pass along your own phobias.

Explain plainly what our pediatric dentist wants to do. You can say they will check their teeth, brush them, and teach them about keeping their mouth healthy. Don’t make hard promises, however, as you never know what your child may need procedure-wise. Of course, you can positively ensure that they are in good hands.

2. Put on or Read Content That’s Dental-Friendly

There are plenty of helpful picture books and cheerful online videos out there on the subject of getting kids ready for the dentist. Prepare your child by taking the time to read through an easy-to-understand book or watch a relatable video.

Any digestible content that has to do with going to the dentist will work wonders. Even better if you can find a book or video that features your child’s favorite character. They’ll be able to see that individual experience the same thing and know that if that character can do it, so can they. Suddenly the idea of taking a trip to our Saginaw, MI, pediatric dental office won’t seem so scary.

After you’re done reading or watching, ask your child to share their thoughts. You may find that they now have a more positive outlook of the dentist! If they’re still hesitant, that’s normal. For many children it won’t be an overnight change so the best thing you can do is to listen intently and not react in a way that implies judgment.

3. Have Fun With Games

One thing all parents can agree on: children love games. So, use this shared appreciation to your advantage. Create a game centered around their next or very first visit to the dentist.

A great place to start is by playing pretend. All you need to do is assume the role of the dentist and have your child be your patient. Use a toothbrush to carefully brush and count their teeth. As you “work”, be sure to speak to your child about what you’re doing and why oral health is important. When you’re done, let your child swap roles and try.

Related Post → 4 Toothbrushing Tips for Toddlers

With any game you try, avoid anything that may further scare your child. What we mean by this is if you play pretend, do not make drilling noises or go into detail on procedures your child may not even need. This can be counterintuitive and frighten them more.

4. Set Your Child Up for Success 

You know your child better than we do. If you’re aware that they’re at their crankiest early in the morning, don’t bring them in first thing if you can avoid it. Instead, wait to schedule their routine cleaning, filling, or stainless steel crown placement until later in the day.

Additionally, make sure your child has eaten a meal recently and gotten enough sleep the night before. This way, they’re more likely to be in high spirits when they’re sitting in the chair. Tantrums and bad moods are hard to predict but careful planning ahead decreases the likelihood they’ll happen.

You can also bring their favorite stuffed animal along for the visit to increase their level of comfort. Sometimes knowing they have a friend with them is all they need to feel confident. Eventually, they’ll learn that they can do it solo, but for now, there’s no shame in a buddy!

Give Our Office a Call Today 

Many adults can track their dental anxiety back to when they were kids but it doesn’t have to be this way. You can patiently teach your child that there’s nothing to fear and that our pediatric dentist in Saginaw, MI, has their best interests at heart. Call Great Lakes Bay Pediatric Dentistry today at (989) 792-9201 to request an appointment for your little one.