It isn’t unusual for children to experience anxiety before doing something for the first time, and this is especially true for dental appointments. If your child hasn’t visited a dentist, the idea of a dental appointment may illicit a bit of dental anxiety. However, you can play a major role in helping them overcome this anxiety.
At North View Dental, our team understands how intimidating an upcoming dental appointment can be for your child, especially if they’ve never gone before. But, with a few simple steps ahead of the appointment, you should be able to easily address and alleviate this anxiety. If your child is experiencing dental anxiety ahead of an appointment, keep reading to see what our team recommends doing to help them prepare.
1. Start Attending Dental Appointments When They’re Young
One of the easiest ways to help your child overcome dental anxiety before appointments is by starting them out when they are young. If your child begins attending regular dental appointments as soon as their teeth begin to emerge, it can help them grow accustomed to the events of these appointments. They will also become more familiar with their dental team, leading to less anxiety before they visit the office.
2. Keep a Consistent Schedule
While starting your child out young is a great way to alleviate their dental anxiety, it is important to recognize that the anxiety doesn’t go away after one appointment. If you want to thoroughly address their anxiety, it is important that you continue to follow a consistent dental appointment pattern. By regularly attending dental appointments, your child should begin to feel less anxious when it is time to go back for another.
3. Be Picky When Choosing a Dentist
Before you attend your child’s first dental appointment, you should consider doing a lot of online research to find the perfect office. Spend your time reading reviews and testimonials from other patients to get a better understanding of how well the dentist works with children. Reading reviews is especially helpful if your dentist doesn’t take pediatric clients, and you’re about to visit an entirely new dentist for your child. This research will ensure your child is in good hands, which should prevent dental anxiety from occurring at all.
4. Use Distractions
Some dental offices will have distraction measures in place, like televisions on the ceiling or music playing. However, if your dental office doesn’t have its own distractions in place, you should consider bringing your own to help your child deal with dental anxiety. Bring their favorite toys, a pair of headphones to listen to music, or a blanket they love to keep them distracted while your dental team is taking care of their teeth.
5. Read Books to Them about the Dentist
Before you even step foot in a dental office, you should consider reading a book to your child about their favorite character visiting the dentist. You may also want to find videos online that show their favorite character attending dental visits. By reading books or watching shows, your child should begin to feel less anxious heading into their dental appointment. These may also address anxieties your child may not have mentioned to you ahead of the appointment.
6. Use Positive Reinforcement
Children are often strongly motivated by positive reinforcements like rewards and praise. Leading up to their dental appointment, make sure to offer strong praise for their dental hygiene efforts. Once the appointment is over, continue to praise them for their bravery and offer to take them on an independent outing to reward them for attending their dental cleaning. This positive reinforcement should help alleviate their dental anxiety before it even begins.
7. Teach Relaxation Techniques
As you help your child learn to regulate their emotions, some of the techniques you teach them can also help them overcome dental anxiety. When your child is feeling anxious or stressed, teach them breathing techniques to help calm themselves. As their appointment approaches, remind them of these techniques and remind them to use them to overcome the anxiety they are experiencing. If they are able to relax ahead of time, it should help the appointment go much more smoothly.
8. Stay Calm Throughout the Appointment
The way you react to their dental appointment is going to have a significant impact on how your child views the appointment. While you might feel some anxiety about them visiting the dentist, it is important to put on a strong front for them. Staying calm throughout their appointment should influence them to stay calm as well, helping the appointment move smoothly for everyone involved.
Overcome Dental Anxiety with a Supportive Dental Team
If you are looking for a supportive dental team in the North Ogden area, turn to our team at North View Dental. For years, our reliable team has provided the most reliable dental care to patients across the Wasatch Front. Whether you need a dental cleaning or you’re looking for cosmetic dentistry, our team provides many dental services to meet everyone’s unique needs.
If you would like to schedule an appointment with our team or if you have any questions for us before your upcoming appointment, don’t hesitate to contact us today.
