Fear of the dentist is one of the most common fears for kids. There are a few reasons. Some kids pick it up from other kids on the playground or from their siblings. Some kids notice that even their parents are not excited for the dentist. And some kids pick it up form cartoons and shows that make the dentist out as a scary place. On top of that, some kids might fear the dentist because they had a bad experience with one. Here are a few tips on helping your kids with the dentist. And if you live in Chicago and need a family dentist for your kids, give us a call.
Choose the Right Dentist For Your Kids
It is so important to pick the right dentist for your family. While as an adult your main concern might be finding a dentist that takes your insurance and is near your home or work, as a parent you need to consider your kids’ experiences. A good family dentist not only provides good services but also knows how to talk to kids. The dentist can be a weird experience. Like any medical procedure, it can be hard for kids to feel comfortable with a stranger. It is important to pick dentists that understand the barrier for kids and can help approach it. Gentle dentists that are kind, caring, and informative can help improve your child’s dental care.
Avoid Negative Reinforcement
One issue across multiple medical fields is the need for “guilt trips”. Many doctors, dentists, and other medical professionals have created negative reinforcement to help encourage kids and adults to take care of their health. This can create an adversarial relationship between medical professionals and patients. It is also not very fair. While good healthy habits are super important, not every factor that influences your health is under your control. Having a dentist that makes you feel condescended to or turns brushing and flossing into a guilt trip can make it hard to build good habits. Moreover, parents that treat cavities like a punishment for bad behavior can mess with their kids’ ability to feel encouraged to improve their dental health. Negative reinforcement sometimes works in the short-term but in the long-term, it is often a reason adults struggle with doctors and dentists.
Lead By Example
Your kids are the first to notice any signs of hypocrisy. If they go to the dentist twice a year, and you don’t, they will notice. If you make them brush their teeth before bed, but you don’t, they will notice. It is so important to demonstrate healthy habits to your kids. Moreover, if you want your kids to feel positive about the dentist, you need to help them feel positive about the dentist.
Remove The Unknown
People fear what they do not know. This is true for kids too. Many dentists that work with kids understand how important it is to explain step by step what is being done, and why it is being done. Many kids feel more comfortable and confident when they know what to expect at the dentist. Kids are excited to tell a dentist that they know what is next, or they understand what a specific procedure does. Go over a dental visit with your kids so they feel informed and have more of a sense of control.
Stay With Your Kids During The Dental Visit
For young children, sometimes familiarity is the key to comfort. A dentist can be a stranger and there can be a lot of fear in seeing the dentist. Many family dental offices allow a parent to sit with their kids. If your child needs this, consider asking if you can stay with them. As your kids age, consider being there for the beginning or the end of the treatment to help kids get used to being alone with the doctor/dentist.
Family Dental Services in Chicago
If you need a dentist in the Chicago area that is great with kids, give Image Dental a call. We are happy to work with patients of all ages!