If your child is afraid of the dentist, there are some easy ways to ease the stress… for both you and your little one. Here are the three BEST ways to ease your child’s dental fears.
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Keep it Upbeat
When you speak with your child about visiting the dentist, use positive language. Explain that we go to the dentist to keep our teeth healthy and strong so we can eat our favorite foods and have beautiful smiles. Try to avoid mentioning negative themes like pain (“It won’t hurt!”).You might sit down and play dentist with your child, inspecting their teeth with a small mirror, brushing and flossing their teeth, and using utensils to represent dental tools.
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Schedule a “Get-to-Know-You”Appointment
You don’t want your child to immediately associate their pediatric dentist in Los Angeles with drilling and shots.Give your child a chance to associate the dental office with fun, praise, and healthy teeth. Thus, it’s best to ask if you can bring your child in for an initial stress-free appointment where they can become familiar with the office and people.
Some offices are really good about this. Maybe your child can…
- Meet and talk with the dentist and team
- Act out a fake teeth cleaning with a team member
- Watch Mommy or Daddy get their teeth cleaned
- Lie in the dental chair and watch a little TV
- Let the dentist take a quick look at their teeth
The next time your child returns, they shouldn’t be as nervous about a full cleaning.
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Find the Right Fit
There’s only so much you can do as a parent to give your child a healthy construct of dentistry. At the end of the day, your child’s experience will depend on the dental team.
That being said, there are things you can do to find the right pediatric dentist in Los Angeles.
- Read reviews
- Ask trusted friends for referrals
- Schedule tours
The team at Crystal Dental Center are warm and very welcoming. If you’re looking for a pediatric dentist that you can trust with your children, consider touring our facility and meeting our staff.
Bonus Tips & Tricks for Easing Your Child’s Dental Anxiety
Here are a few more ideas to help your child foster a positive relationship with dentistry.
- Make sure your child is not tired, hungry, or overstimulated at the time of the appointment
- Provide positive reinforcement by telling your child all the things he or she did well at the appointment
- Be casual about visiting the dentist, and make it a regular part of your routine
- Draw your child’s dentist together, portraying him/her as a warm and happy person
For further information or to schedule an appointment with our pediatric dentist in Los Angeles, Dr. Alex Moradzadeh, please contact Crystal Dental Center at 213.748.8448 or visit www.CrystalDentalCenters.com to learn more.
