Preparing Your Child for Pediatric Dentistry

Dr. Mistry Dental in Mississauga understands that there are a lot of adults out there that are afraid of the dentist, so there should be no surprise that children are also going to be fearful of going to their first dentist visit (or any visit after). You want to make this experience as positive as possible to encourage them to keep going to the dentist. These are just some of the tips that you can follow if you are trying to get your child to the dentist and want to make them as comfortable as possible.

Before you even make the appointment, you will want to make sure that you choose a dentist that specializes in pediatric dentistry. There are some practices that are just not child-friendly, meaning that they do not have the experience and the equipment for younger children. They will generally be a lot more patient and have toys that the child can play with during the exam to keep them calm.

It can be very helpful to start taking your child to the dentist as early as possible. This can help to cut down on some of the nerves and make it more of a routine than some rare occasion. Once you have made your appointment, you should talk about it with your child so that they know what to expect. Keep it basic and keep it positive. If you get into too much detail, such as things like getting a filling for a cavity, you may create a higher level of anxiety that can negatively impact this experience for them. You should make sure that they have reasonable expectations in case they do have cavities, letting your child know that this may be a possibility. By telling your child that nothing is going to happen to them and them ending up having a cavity, you could potentially lose their trust as well as causing them to lose their trust in the dentist.

You should also prepare your child by having a fake dentist appointment. Pretend that you are a dentist and walk your child through the dentist appointment. Try not to use too many words like shots or pain, but make it a fun experience that will teach them exactly what is going to happen to them. Just use a tooth brush as using other tools may frighten your child and think that it is a scary experience.

These are just a few of the things that you can do if you are going to take your child to the dentist. People are most afraid of things that they are not familiar with, which is why children are so afraid for their first appointment. By letting them in on what is going on and choosing a place where they feel comfortable, you are going to make this a more positive experience that they will carry with them into adulthood. Otherwise, you run the risk of teaching the child to be afraid of the dentist and avoid going to one at all costs. If you are located in Mississauga please feel free to drop in and book an appointment for your child today!