When your child is afraid of the dentist, appointments can be a nightmare. This doesn’t have to be the case, though. As a team of kids’ dentists, we have discovered several ways parents can prepare their child for appointments and eliminate common fears. In this guide, we’ll provide six simple steps parents can follow to help relieve your child’s anxiety about visiting a kids’ dentist:
- Understand your child’s dental anxiety
- Talk to them about pediatric dentists
- Introduce your child to dental appointments at home
- Bring a comfort item to their dental appointment
- Be calm and reassuring
- Praise your child’s bravery
Pediatric dental appointments don’t have to be a stressful experience for you and your child. Adequately preparing them will help relieve their dental anxiety and make visits go much more smoothly. Let’s dive into the steps that can help make this a reality:
Step 1: Understand Your Child’s Dental Anxiety
Your child’s first dental appointment is a huge milestone, but it can also be scary for your little one. Children, like most of us, have a healthy fear of the unknown. A pediatric dentist is no exception. The unfamiliar sounds, smells, and people in masks can instantly put young children on edge.
But what if the dentist isn’t a new experience for your child? In that case, they may have had a previously traumatic experience at the pediatric dentist and are afraid it will happen again. Or maybe they heard about a negative dentist experience from their friends or family and are now afraid they will encounter a similar situation.
Whatever reason your child has for being nervous about their dental appointment, it’s important not to minimize it. But first, you need to observe how your child is expressing their dental anxiety so you can address their fears effectively. Some of the most common expressions of dental anxiety include:
Throwing Tantrums
Children, especially young ones, are still learning to navigate their big emotions. If your child is afraid of the dentist, they may cry or throw a fit at the mere mention of an upcoming appointment. This can be an overwhelming experience for everyone involved. You can’t talk rationally to your child about the upcoming dental visit if they are lashing out. Instead, try using Conscious Discipline to help calm them down:
- Take three deep breaths
- Give your child a choice of what to do next
- Have your child take some deep breaths with you
- Take your child to a safe place to calm down
Once they have calmed down, ask them why they are so afraid of the dentist. If they don’t have a clear answer, that’s okay. Either way, reassure them that everyone gets nervous going to the dentist and that you’ll be with them every step of the way.
Difficulty Sleeping the Night Before a Visit
If you notice that your child isn’t sleeping well before their dental appointments, this can indicate that they have dental anxiety. Try talking to them the night before their appointment and ask them what they are nervous about. Talking through these anxieties before bed can help your child process their fears so they aren’t constantly thinking about them while trying to sleep. In younger children, this may even lead to them talking themselves to sleep.
Having a bedtime routine with relaxation practices built in can also help soothe your child when they’re nervous the night before an appointment. For example, you may try adding the following activities in before their upcoming dental appointment:
- Reading a book together
- Gentle stretching or going for a slow walk
- Listening to soothing music
- Practicing meditation or deep breathing
- Journaling about the day
When your child doesn’t sleep well, chances are you won’t either, leading to a stressful dental appointment the next day. Helping your child relax the night before the visit will help make sure everyone is well rested and ready.
Stomach Aches
When your child doesn’t feel well, a visit to a kids’ dentist can be even more stressful. Sometimes upset stomachs can indicate your child is ill, but if they always seem to get one before a dental appointment, this may be a sign of dental anxiety. Anxiety induced stomach aches typically result from children not knowing how to express their fear or calm it down. Encourage your child to talk about their dental anxiety and ask open ended questions like “How do you feel about your upcoming visit to the dentist?” You may also try practicing deep breathing with your child or other mindfulness exercises such as identifying five things they can see, touch, or smell in a room.
No matter how your child is expressing their dental anxiety, be understanding and reassure your child that what they’re feeling is normal and that you will be with them. Then, try the rest of these steps:
Step 2: Talk to Them About Pediatric Dentists
The first step to familiarizing your child with pediatric dentists is by talking to them about the dentists. In fact, try to talk to your child about pediatric dentists before their very first dental appointment and every one after that. When talking to your child about their next pediatric dentist visit, clearly explain what they can expect. Don’t just tell them you’ll be going to see a doctor who will look at their teeth, though. Explain the following in simple language your child will understand:
- How you will get to the dental appointment
- What the purpose of the waiting room is
- What they can expect at the dentist’s office
- Who will be looking at their teeth (hygienists vs dentists)
- How people will examine their teeth and take x-rays
- What you and the dentist will talk about during the visit
- How they will get a goodie bag after the appointment
Talking to your child about the entire process in simple phrases they can understand will help them prepare for the visit since it won’t be a surprise, and they’ll know what to expect. And explaining why all these steps are necessary, as well as why they need to see a dentist, can help your child understand the purpose of their regular visits.
Be sure to use an upbeat tone and positive phrases when talking to your child about the dentist to further alleviate anxieties. For example, instead of saying, “A dentist will poke around inside your mouth,” try “The dentist helps keep your teeth strong and shiny!” This shows your child that the kids’ dentist isn’t something that will cause discomfort, but a place where their teeth can be taken care of.
Step 3: Introduce Your Child to Dental Appointments at Home
Don’t just talk to your child about their upcoming dental appointment; prepare them for it at home. Read books or watch videos together about pediatric dentists. This will help familiarize your child with dentists before they even step into a dental office. Take this process one step further by practicing their dental appointment at home beforehand. Make it another game of playing pretend. Take turns playing the dentist and the patient with your child. This will physically prepare them for their next dental appointment. Yes, you may not have all the fancy tools dentists do but try using a toothbrush to count teeth and mimic sounds of instruments to get your child ready.
Step 4: Bring a Comfort Item to Their Dental Appointment
Roleplaying a dental appointment at home can be a great way to prepare your child for the visit, but that doesn’t guarantee your child’s fears will go away completely. Kids’ dentists do their best to make the space as warm and inviting as possible. But the dental equipment can still put your child on edge, despite all the smiling faces and colorful walls around them. Before their next dental appointment, have your child pick out a comfort item to bring with them. This could be a stuffed animal, blanket, or toy. The goal is to make your child feel more at ease by having something familiar with them they can hold on to during the entire appointment.
Step 5: Be Calm and Reassuring
Remember, children often mirror their parents’ emotions and actions. If you’re visibly nervous at the kids’ dentist, your child will pick up on that and become nervous too. Stay upbeat and calm before, during, and after their dental appointment. And if your child starts to get antsy, remind them that you will be with them the whole time and that the pediatric dentists are there to help, not hurt them.
Step 6: Praise Your Child’s Bravery
Helping your child through their fear of dentists doesn’t stop after their dental appointment has ended. In fact, the time after their dental appointment is critical for helping your child process the event. After their visit to the pediatric dentist, praise your child for being so brave. If things went especially well, you could even reward them with a small, non-sugary treat. This helps reinforce your child’s good behavior and creates more positive experiences around the dentist for them to remember next time.
Ready to Schedule Your Child’s Next Dental Appointment?
Unfamiliar dental tools, strange sounds, and strangers in masks can be overwhelming for your little one. That’s why we do everything possible to make your child’s dental appointment as welcoming and go as smoothly as possible. From colorful rooms to smiling staff and explanations using stuffed animals, our team works hard to care for your child’s smile and make the experience a positive one. Contact LeBlanc & Associates today to schedule a dental appointment with a team that cares about your child.
Dental Appointment Anxiety FAQs
When should my child first see a kids’ dentist?
Most pediatric dentists recommend scheduling a child’s first dental appointment by their first birthday or when the first tooth appears, whichever comes first.
What if my child is terrified of their dental appointment?
A pediatric dentist is specially trained to help anxious children feel safe, using kid friendly language, gentle techniques, and a calm environment during each dental appointment.
How can I explain a dental appointment to my child without scaring them?
Use positive, simple language and focus on how the kids’ dentist helps keep teeth strong and healthy, rather than describing tools or procedures in detail.
How do pediatric dentists handle dental anxiety in children?
A pediatric dentist uses behavioral techniques, age-appropriate explanations, and sometimes distractions like music or videos to reduce stress during a dental appointment.
What should I bring to my child’s dental appointment?
You can bring a comfort item like a favorite toy or blanket, plus any insurance information and a list of questions for the kids’ dentist.
What counts as a dental emergency for kids?
A dental emergency includes severe tooth pain, knocked out teeth, broken teeth, swelling, or bleeding that does not stop and requires immediate care from a pediatric dentist.
Should I take my child to a kids’ dentist for a dental emergency?
Yes, a kids’ dentist or pediatric dentist is the best choice for treating a dental emergency, as they are trained to handle urgent issues in children safely.
How quickly should I schedule a dental appointment after a dental emergency?
You should contact a pediatric dentist immediately after a dental emergency, as prompt treatment can help prevent pain, infection, or permanent damage.
How can I make future dental appointments easier for my child?
Consistent visits to the same kids’ dentist, positive reinforcement, and calm preparation can help children feel more comfortable at every dental appointment.
How do you make dental appointments less scary for children?
We have designed our entire office, from waiting rooms to exam rooms, to be welcoming, comfortable, and kid friendly. Our pediatric dentists also use stuffed animals and age-appropriate language to explain procedures to children before their dental appointment begins so they know exactly what to expect.