In the Know For You To Know

Here you are. You have your child’s dental appointment all set. You’ve talked about this. Even read books and watched videos. They’ve practiced how big they’re going to open for the dentist to see all their teeth. This time it’s going to be different. Everything is going great.

Somewhere along the drive to the dental office your child says “I don’t want to go. I’m scared.” They keep repeating this louder and louder. Then they start to cry.

You know their melt down has started. Maybe this time it will get better before you get there. But what if it doesn’t and gets worse?

What do you do? How do you calm and reassure your child there’s nothing to be scared of at the dentist’s office? Will they believe this?

A lot of children are afraid of the dentist. So today we’re discussing children’s dental anxiety and how you can make your child’s pediatric dental appointment a positive experience.

How Common Is Dental Anxiety In Children? What Are The Numbers?

It’s relatively common for children to have dental anxiety. Overall, the prevalence of dental anxiety in ~

• Preschoolers is 36.5%,
• School age children is 25.8%,
• Adolescents is 13.3%

6 Reasons Why A Child Has Dental Anxiety

• Fear of Injections and Local Anesthesia – Your child might be afraid of needles, getting a “shot” or a local anesthetic (aka numbing). Pediatric dentists have the equipment and know the techniques for administering injections as painlessly as possible.
• Fear of Pain – Children might be afraid that dental treatment will be painful. This fear can come from hearing other children or adults talk about scary moments during their dental procedures. Your child might also be afraid of experiencing pain after a previous bad experience. Pediatric dentists are used to treating children and work with the child to allow them to feel comfortable during treatment.
• Fear of Obstructed Breathing – During dental treatment children need to hold their mouth open, and sometimes for a longer time. Dental instruments and the dental team’s hands in the mouth is a lot for a child. Pediatric dentists and their team can distract your child (such as with a favorite movie) to make the procedure less scary.
• Fear of Embarrassment – Children might feel self conscious about having dental caries (aka tooth decay) or a dental deformity. For a child who has experienced insults related to the way their teeth look, this fear could become more intense.
• Fear of Losing Control – Lying down in a dental chair while the dentist uses instruments inside their mouth can trigger anxiety. Part of this fear stems from the feeling that they will be unable to let you know if something starts to bother or overwhelm them. Pediatric dentists address by having you in the room during treatment, as well as letting your child know they can communicate with a hand signal when something bothers them or becomes overwhelming.
• Unexplained Fears – Specifically pinpointing a fear can be difficult with a child. Anxiety can result from sensory challenges or a stressor that the child is unable or unwilling to talk about. Your child might be anxious because they don’t understand what is going to take place, why they need the procedure or how the procedure is going to make things better.

As A Parent, Ways You Can Alleviate Dental Anxiety And Make Your Child Feel Comfortable

As a parent you can help your child overcome these negative and fearful feelings about dental care with an empathetic attitude and positive reinforcement.

Ways To Alleviate Dental Anxiety

• Start dental care early and keep up with regular check-ups
• Bring a comfort item from home
• Role play at home
• Be present
• Stay strong
• Choose your words carefully and speak honestly
• Use positive reinforcement
• Avoid delaying dental care
• Communicate with your child’s pediatric dental team

What To Remember

Understanding and addressing dental anxiety in children is critical for their long term oral health. Anxiety, often rooted in fear, unfamiliarity, or past experiences can make their dental visits challenging.

We do this by working together. As pediatric dentists our goal is to empower you with knowledge and tools to help your children overcome their dental fears.

Fostering a collaborative approach ensures that children feel they are supported, informed, and involved in their dental health, making dental visits a positive experience. All of which helps to ensure a life time of healthy smiles.

Is your child afraid to go to the dentist? Do you know a child who had meltdown before, during or after their dental appointment? What tips do you have that has worked for you? Tell Us, We’d really like to know! Send us an email to kidstoothhotline@proton.me Like Us on Facebook

More tips? We have lots. We’re here just for kids!