Let’s be honest: a trip to the dentist can be anxiety-inducing regardless of your age. However, you can effectively address any fear or anxiety by turning your child’s first visit to the dentist into an adventure.
First, look for kid-friendly pediatric dental offices that specialize in treating children. Pediatric dentists are highly skilled in dealing with children, and their gentle approach will help your little one feel relaxed throughout the visit.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that dental caries is one of children’s most common dental conditions. Hence, getting preventive oral care should begin at an early age.
Let’s explore how to find the best pediatric dentist and ways to overcome anxiety during your first visit.
How to Find the Best Pediatric Dentist
The key quality to look for in a dentist for your child is specialization in pediatric dentistry. Pediatric dentists have the necessary training and skill set to treat children.
Dental offices that only focus on pediatric dentistry also understand the communication techniques that work with kids. This makes it easy for them to interact with children, effectively reducing their anxiety.
The elements that you should look for when evaluating the best pediatric dental offices include:
Child-Friendly Environment
A dentist offering children’s dental services should have a fun and welcoming environment. Children are very visual creatures, so pediatric dentists usually incorporate colorful elements into their offices.
The furniture should also be kid-friendly to ensure children don’t feel intimidated. The best pediatric dental practices also feature the following:
- Artistic décor
- Pre-visit tours to help your child become more familiar with the office
- Availability of toys and designated play areas
Client Reviews and Feedback
Research all various practices offering childhood dental care. You can also evaluate online reviews and check for previous clients’ testimonials about their experiences. Further, pay attention to what parents of children with dental anxiety said in their review.
Doing extensive research helps you discover recommendations for the best pediatric dentists. In addition, consult pediatricians, family doctors, and your friends for recommendations on dentists who are experts in handling children.
It’s also worth going for a pre-visit consultation as a meet-and-greet opportunity between your child and the dentist. These visits are ideal because:
- They let your child become more familiar with the office environment
- Reduce fear of the unknown as your kid gets to meet the staff
- They can mitigate any anxiety associated with the fear of the unknown
Assess Communication Approaches and Relaxation Techniques
The National Library of Medicine found that unpleasant dental visits usually exacerbate dental fear. Consequently, kids’ dentists need to tailor their communication approaches to address dental anxiety and fear.
A Lexington pediatric dentist must be able to use kid-friendly language to explain various dental procedures. One common approach used by pediatric dentists is the tell-show-do method. Under this approach, the dentist tells your child the procedure they’ll perform, demonstrates it, and then performs it.
The tell-show-do method is key to reducing anxiety because it prepares kids for what they can expect. The best pediatric dental offices also have additional methods of calming down kids, such as:
- Distraction methods using music, storytelling, or even TV
- Using positive reinforcement to praise good behavior
- Availability of mild sedation options in cases of extreme fear or anxiety
Like adults, children relax more when they understand what’s going on. So, choosing a dentist who can use age-appropriate language reduces your child’s dental anxiety.
Tips for Preparing Children for a Dental Visit
Addressing dental anxiety begins with adequate preparation for the visit. As a parent, you play a crucial role in helping your child become more at ease with the idea of a dental visit. One of the first steps you can take is to inform your child of the appointment.
Go to the dentist as early as possible. The recommended age is six months after they get their first tooth. Schedule dental visits at least twice a year to help your child become familiar with the norms of going for a checkup.
You can also roleplay dental visits if your child has extreme anxiety. Moreover, it creates good associations with dental visits by using positive reinforcement. For instance, take your child to their favorite park or make the preferred meal after the visit.
Other strategies you can use to overcome dental anxiety include:
- Communicating openly about the visit
- Using age-appropriate methods such as storybook showing characters going to the dentist
- Bringing along a comfort item for the visit
Consult a pediatric dentist in Lexington before the visit and work with them to make the experience as pleasant as possible. A dentist can help your child become more comfortable with the visit by gradually introducing them to the office.
What to Expect During a Dental Visit
According to the University of Washington, about two in five children have tooth decay by the time they get to kindergarten. The high prevalence of oral disease in children is directly linked to fewer dental visits.
You can improve your kid’s oral health by ensuring they get adequate childhood dental care. A kid’s dentist in Beaumont offers various dental services you can access during your visit. Some of the dental procedures you can look forward to include:
Cleaning and General Checkup
Pediatric dentists will conduct a checkup to identify if any underlying issues need to be addressed. They’ll also examine whether the teeth are growing properly and perfectly aligned. You can expect your child’s teeth to get a thorough cleaning to prevent any dental problems.
Restorative Care
A Lexington kids’ dentist can perform restorative work if your child’s teeth have sustained damage. This may be due to issues such as cavities or trauma to the teeth. Pediatric dentists in Beaumont will facilitate a meet-the-crew tour to help make the visit as relaxing as possible.
Overcome Anxiety at the Pediatric Dental Offices of Beaumont
Overcoming dental anxiety in kids is a continuous process. Luckily, the best pediatric dental offices have a fun, interactive, kid-friendly environment to help children feel at home.
Beaumont Kids Dentistry offers cutting-edge dental services for kids coupled with gentleness and friendliness to alleviate any fear or anxiety. From restorative dentistry to regular checkups, we’ll customize our services to improve your child’s oral health.
Contact us today to book your appointment.