How can you encourage your kid to enjoy the dentist?
Kids are often terrified when faced with the prospect of going to a dentist. Most people have to drag their children to visit the dentist, a process that’s increasingly painful with every dental clinic. In fact, many adults continue avoiding dental cleanings and dental treatments because of their persistent fear of dental clinics. If a child doesn’t develop a good relationship with dental treatments at an early age, the fear of dentists may follow them into adulthood, leading to severe dental problems due to inadequate care. This article discusses how you can encourage your kid to enjoy the dentist.
1. Work with a dentist that specializes in child dentistry.
The most important factor when it comes to kid’s dentistry is the quality of the dental clinic. You must find a local dentist specializing in child dentistry, i.e., a pediatric dentist. Regular dentists can also treat children, but you should ideally find good pediatric dentists with specialized training in dealing with kids dental care. Pediatric dentists are dedicated to the oral health of children from their infancy to their late teenage years. Their training usually includes four years of dental school, followed by two years of residency programs in dentistry for infants, children, teenagers, and other kids with special needs.
Pediatric dentists are specially trained in the diagnosis and treatment of dental problems associated with baby teeth, such as dental caries. They also understand how to deal with problems that may arise during the transition from baby teeth to permanent teeth. Pediatric dentists are ideally suited to help your children transition from baby teeth to permanent teeth perfectly so that they have a perfect set of aligned teeth in their adulthood. More importantly, pediatric dentists are also trained in basic child psychology and behavior — they know how to get your children to care about their oral health.
Children hate going to dental clinics for several reasons — the clinical atmosphere, tools that look like torture devices, unfriendly dentists who treat children like machines, and uncomfortable probing practices as dentists examine their teeth. A specialized kids dental clinic is usually designed in a friendly style that makes them feel comfortable. Pediatric dentists are warm, friendly, and understand how to connect with children to dispel their fears. The dental tools used in kids dental clinics are often smaller to make them more comfortable. And some dentists also offer sedation options to dispel the child’s anxiety.
Finally, you need pediatric dentists because they understand children and their psychological needs better than regular dentists. They inculcate the value of optimal oral hygiene and provide the necessary guidance to help your children overcome bad oral habits, such as thumb-sucking, mouth breathing, and other practices that lead to dental misalignment. If you find a friendly and compassionate pediatric dentist, you won’t have to worry about dragging your children for dental visits; they’ll look forward to them!
2. Choose a local dentist for your children.
There’s no point in choosing the best kid’s dentist if they’re several hours from your home. Children need to see a dentist frequently for several reasons, common dental problems, toothaches, regular dental visits, etc. As such, you can’t drop everything to drive your kid back and forth from a dental clinic if it’s too far away. Furthermore, children are often impatient and hate long drives, making them more resistant to dental visits. That’s why you must choose a local dentist for your children; someone you can drive to in a few minutes, especially during dental emergencies.
3. Test the kids dentist yourself before sending your children there.
You must test the kids dentist before you take your child for kids dental care. When you interview the kids dentist, you should ask them how they deal with different dental emergencies and situations. You should also ask them how long they’ve been treating children and let them know if your child has any special needs. You should gauge their response, experience, and attitude. You must find a kids dentist who is affable and warm — someone your child would love to visit regularly.
4. Talk to your kid about what they can expect from the dentist office for kids.
Most people don’t like surprises, especially children, especially when it comes to dental visits. Instead of simply taking them to the dental clinics, you should prepare them for it ahead of time. You should spend several days preparing them for the dental visit and getting them excited. When you interview the kids dentist, you should ask them how to prepare your child and what they can expect from the dental visit. Tell your child what they can expect from the dental office visit, so they’re mentally prepared for it. It also helps to substitute potentially scary words with friendlier alternatives. Instead of telling them they’re going to a doctor or dentist for teeth cleaning, you can tell them that a friend will help improve their smile.
5. Don’t change your kid’s dentist unless absolutely necessary.
Kids need stability, and they need to develop a strong relationship with one dentist. As such, once you find a dentist, you should stick to them unless a change is absolutely necessary. Going to the same kids dentist every time will build a sense of trust, making them more willing to go for dental visits.
Schedule dental care for kids.
Nottingham Dental is one of the most reputable kids dental care offices in Katy, TX. Our dental clinic is located at 20501 Katy Fwy #104, suitable for most people in and around Katy and Houston. For more information, please schedule your interview with our exceptionally talented and friendly dentists for kids today.
