Tackling Your Dental Treatment Plan

If your youngster's first teeth have presented, you may have already scheduled an appointment with your family dentist. However, many children are fearful of dentists due to negative depictions on cartoons or other television shows. In addition, the large pieces of equipment in a dental office can seem quite scary to a youngster. Still, there are ways to help your child enjoy visiting the dentist. Here are a few:

Be sure he or she brushes and flosses regularly.

If your child doesn't care for his or her teeth properly, his or her dental visits may be much more uncomfortable. Unfortunately, the child may not associate the lack of dental hygiene with the discomfort. Instead, he or she may attribute it to the dentist.

Most restorative dental procedures are more invasive and uncomfortable than preventive applications. Your child is less likely to complain about a fluoride treatment or a dental cleaning than a filling or a root canal. Helping your little one keep his or her teeth clean can ensure a more comfortable dental visit.

Start early.

When children are exposed to their dentist at an early age, they are more likely to embrace the visits without fear. However, as they grow older, they are exposed to negative depictions of dentists. Thus, a first-time visit for an older child can sometimes be more frightening. 

Scheduling a dental appointment for your child as soon as his or her first teeth erupt can help your child become acclimated to dental visits. Most dentists provide special rewards, such as a new toothbrush or a small toy, to young patients to help your child look forward to the next appointment. Good experiences early on can help lessen your child's likelihood of developing dental anxiety later.

Role play.

For young children, a visit to the dentist can be filled with unfamiliarity. To help your child enjoy his or first dental visit, plan a pretend visit at home. Set up a chair and pretend instruments. You can play the role of the dentist. Use a mirror to allow the child to look at his or her teeth and use a small spoon to probe around his or her mouth. You can close your visit by offering the child a small toy as a reward. Role play can help your child learn what to expect and lessen his or her anxiety.

Going to the dentist for the first time can be frightening for a young child. However, early dental visits can help prevent future dental decay, so dental appointments should never be avoided. For more information, contact David Semrau, DDS or a similar dental professional.