Due to the importance of dental health as it pertains to our overall health, maintaining your child’s six-month checkups is important. Dental fear and anxiety can be very real for children and impact their relationship with their dental health and the dentist’s office. Research shows that nearly ten percent of children have dental fear and anxiety. This can be difficult to overcome when it’s time to for their dental appointment. Below you will find tips on how to help your child not be scared of the dentist.
How to Help Your Child Not Be Scared of the Dentist
It’s important to ensure your child’s dental visits go smoothly, so they have a good experience to draw back upon when they have to go to their next appointment.
Start Early:
If your child has not gone to their first dental appointment, be sure and start early! Dentists recommend that children have their first dentist appointment when their first tooth erupts or no later than their first birthday. Having your child attend their first dental appointment early on can minimize their ability to develop fear and anxiety when it comes to the dentist.
Pediatric Dentistry:
While there are a lot of dental offices that provide a wide variety of services, be sure that the dentist you choose specializes in pediatric dentistry. A pediatric dentist in Chino Hills is aware of the challenges that come with providing dental services to children. Finding the right dentist who has patience, can make your child feel comfortable, and even make them laugh can build a healthy relationship between your child and their dentist.
Consistency:
Not only is it a good idea to maintain consistency and schedule a six-month checkup for your child, but it’s also helpful to schedule an appointment with the same hygienist. While the dentist will interact with your child, the hygienist also spends a lot of time with them. Having a number of familiar faces around can help your child feel more comfortable.
Practice Round:
One of the best ways to help your child acclimate and show excitement for going to the dentist: scheduling a practice round. Even if you don’t see the dentist or hygienist, call the office in advance and see if you can swing by. While this may look different this year due to the global pandemic, we advise considering how it can be done safely. At the very least, you could drive by so your child becomes more familiar with the location. Make it a fun day and grab some dinner afterwards, so they associate the dentist with something that makes them happy.
Post-Dentist Visit Activity:
Another great way to help your child overcome any fears they have with the dentist is to schedule something fun afterwards. Whether it’s a playdate, going out to eat, or even heading to the park, give them something to look forward to afterwards. This will help them keep their mind focused on something they’ll enjoy without the anxiety of only thinking about their dentist appointment.
Dentist in Chino Hills
If your child has not had their first dental appointment or if you are looking for a pediatric dentist, contact the dentists at Dental Care of Chino Hills. The pediatric dentists have trained to meet the needs of your child. And you can trust their services. They will make your child feel safe and comfortable as they understand the fear and anxiety children may have when it comes to the dentist. Their mission is to help their patients maintain a healthy and beautiful smile by providing an unparalleled level of high-quality dental care. If you are looking for a dentist in Chino Hills, contact Dental Care of Chino Hills today for an appointment!