How to Prepare for an Appointment With Your Kid’s Dentist
A dentist for kids can help parents struggling to keep their children comfortable at the dentist. Many parents know how hard it can be when it is time for their child's dentist appointment. Especially at first, children can have anxiety about and even dread going to the dentist. Luckily, there are a lot of things parents can do to ease their child's fear of the dentist. Also, having a dentist experienced in working with kids can go a long way.
Making kids feel safe
Every parent should understand the importance of using a dentist who has been trained in how to deal with kids. A dentist for kids knows how to make them feel safe. When kids feel safe, they are more likely to agree to whatever needs to be done during their dental appointment. While most kids will become more agreeable in a dental office that is brightly colored, full of toys and contains kid-sized equipment, other kids may require a little more assistance. A dentist experienced in working with kids will be able to relate to them and more accurately anticipate their needs.
How to prepare for a kid's dental appointment
The following is a list of beneficial information that will help parents prepare their kids for their next dental appointment.
Give them plenty of advance notice.
Kids need plenty of advance notice to help them mentally prepare for their dental appointment. Tell them in the simplest terms the reason for the appointment and what will happen during the appointment. Tell them not to hesitate when it comes to asking any questions they want answers to.
Be honest
One of the worst things parents can do is not to be completely honest with their kids regarding their dental appointment or dental treatments. Kids need to be able to trust their parents when they are given information. Even a little white lie can make it, so kids no longer trust their parents, which is going to make it more difficult to get them to the dental office.
Roleplay
Role-playing can be effective when it comes to helping kids be more comfortable about going to the dentist. For example, parents can pretend to be the dentist and be friendly and accommodating when pretending to explore their child's teeth for cavities. Then, the kid can then take their turn being the dentist, examining the parent's mouth.
Let them bring items of comfort
Familiarity tends to make children more comfortable. For this reason, kids are encouraged to bring comfort items such as stuffed animals to the dentist's office. Other common comfort items include a favorite shirt, a small blanket, and a favorite book or toy.
Need to make an appointment?
Many kids will resist going to their dental appointment. This is often due to the fact that they do not understand why they need to undergo regular dental appointments. Our dentist for kids is skilled in helping kids feel comfortable in the dentist's chair. We take the time to explain everything, making your kids more comfortable and, therefore, less fearful. Ready to make an appointment to support your kid's oral health?
Request an appointment here: https://www.gatewaydental.org or call Gateway Dental Dr. William Swann DDS at (301) 485-7492 for an appointment in our Bowie office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Kid Friendly Dentist in Bowie, MD.
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