How to Help your Child Overcome their Fear of the Dentist

When you are a kid going to the dentist can be a scary thing. They are introduced to new people and new activities that don’t occur in their everyday lives. To help ease your child’s fears about going to see their dentist at Roger’s Center for Dentistry in Spanish Fork, UT we have gathered some tips for you to try when it comes to helping your child overcome their fears.

Communication

Discuss your child’s fears with the dentist. Be as precise as possible. Some children are afraid of needles while others are afraid of having their space invaded by strangers. It will also help to communicate with your child and walk them through the process of getting a dental cleaning.

See a Pedodontist

Pediatric dentists are skilled in the ways of the little ones. They use smaller instruments and usually have kid-friendly offices with fun decorative themes, movies and games. They are also outfitted to work with kids who have special needs.

Make it Fun

Seat your child in a recliner and let them know when you are going to dip it backwards into the rocket ship position. Talk about the benefits of a healthy mouth. Make the cleaning process into a game by telling them to open their mouth like a dinosaur and growl like a bear while having different areas of their mouth cleaned.

Play dentist at Home

Count your child’s teeth with a toothbrush and use a small flashlight to shine light so you can take a peek inside. Then gently pull the cheek away to take a better look. Let the patient watch you with a mirror. This will get them used to and comfortable with the process of getting their teeth cleaned at the dentist.

Explore the Dentist’s Office

Arrange to have your child meet the dentist and staff before the actual visit so he can see that there’s nothing to fear. They can show him the chair that he will sit in and all of the cool tools that are used to clean his teeth. Hit up the toy and treats box on the way out so they have something to look forward to.