Most people loathe going to the dentist. Even though children are recognized as the group that fears the dentist the most, adults are often nearly as bad.
Since adults have the choice, they simply avoid going to the dentist. Meanwhile, children are forced to suffer through it.
In general, as long as their parent does not act scared, but excited and encouraging, the child can handle the trip okay. There are many cases where the child cannot handle the stress however.
These children may react in a variety of different ways, but there are still several ways in which a parent can deal with this child when taking him or her to the dentist. If it is a constant battle whenever you visit the dentist, you may want to talk to the dentist about things you can do to help.
When a child is upset and fights the treatment, it is not only painful for the child, but the hygienist, dentist, and of course you as his or her parent. The first thing you may want to do is look around for a different dentist.
This may not have anything to do with your personal dentist and he or she could be very talented. However, a pediatric dentist has been trained to work with children and he or she may have developed more skills that may match your child better.
In addition, he or she may be able to work around wiggles, whining and crying where a normal dentist would have to stop. If you have noticed specific things that set off your child, you may want to talk with the dentist about these things to see if other arrangements can be made to avoid these things.
Many children can get upset or worried when they are being held down, have their mouth touched, see bright lights, smell strong abnormal smells, and so forth. If the dentist expresses a concern about these things you may want to find another dentist to work with.
You will also want to make sure that the dentist has a good hygienist. Sometimes a good hygienist can make all of the difference in the world.
As you well know, some hygienists do not seem to be aware that they are causing you tremendous pain and can be quite rough. Meanwhile, others can be quite gentle and the process can be relatively easy to endure.
You will want to try to find a nice hygienist to work with your child. All too often the dentist is not even in the room for the majority of the procedure.
This is part of why it is so important to have a good hygienist. It is a good idea to ask other friends and family members in your area who have small children if they have found a good hygienist.
When you make an appointment for your child, you can usually ask specifically for one hygienist. The secretary can help you schedule a time when that hygienist is working.
As you visit the dentist on a regular basis, your child will get to know the hygienist and the familiarity can help him or her feel more comfortable. A good hygienist can be quite a comfort to many people, adults or children.
Of course, it can also help to tell your child what to expect. As you tell your child keep a smile on your face and talk in a positive manner.
Everyone is a little uncomfortable walking into a new situation. By knowing a little of what to expect, your child may be significantly more comfortable with the idea.
If you do not think your child understands what you are saying you may want to role play going to the dentist or read about another child visiting the dentist. It can also help to talk about why it is important to visit the dentist if your child is slightly older.
Another thing that can help your child be calm at the dentist's is to pick a low-stress time of the day for your child. For example, your child may be extremely tired and hungry right after school.
This is obviously not the best time to schedule an appointment. On the other hand, some children are simply excited to be out of school and are the happiest right after school ends.
Try to choose the time of day to visit the dentist when your child is relaxed and not too stressed out. As your child grows older, he or she may also grow out of his or her fear.
Author Resource:-
Jack Landry has authored hundreds of articles relating to general and cosmetic dentistry. He was a dental assistant specializing in Dental Implants Utah and has been a guest dental lecturer for over 15 years.
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.massagebyben.com/articles/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites 