Family Dentist Tip: How to Handle Your Child Being Afraid of the Dentist Fear is a natural human reaction and it helps alert us of potential dangers. Everyone is afraid of something and it is perfectly normal to have fears, especially as a child! Some children are afraid of the dark, clowns, or spiders, while others are afraid of the dentist. Rippe Dental Associates is the top family dentist near Parker, CO and has training in servicing children and helping them overcome dental anxiety. Our team of dental experts are available to help maintain your entire family’s dental health and lessen the anxiety your children have toward the dentist by making it a positive and fun experience. Dental Anxiety in Children Explained One of the first steps to overcoming a fear is understanding how it develops and the options available to help alleviate it. It is common for children to be afraid of things they believe will hurt them, and the idea of a tooth extraction or dental-injection can be terrifying if your child hasn't received this treatment before. Fear of the unknown also contributes to dental anxiety in children since they develop their knowledge from the world around them. This means that dental anxiety can develop from hearing about others' bad experiences, portrayal of dental exams by the media, and having a lack of knowledge about how a service is performed. What Parents Can Do to Help Their Children Overcome Dental Anxiety A child's fear of the dentist can cause you to delay their dental check-ups and when your child doesn't receive the dental care they need, they can develop severe cavities and bad oral hygiene practices. There are a lot of things you can do to help reduce your child’s anxiety; however, one of the best things you can do is to consult a reliable and friendly family dentist like the team at Rippe Dental Associates. Here is a list of other ways you can help reduce your child’s dental anxiety: ●
Be Careful of What you Say
Before your child’s visit, avoid using trigger words such as scary, painful, blood, injections and so on when talking about what could happen. Also avoid creating a negative picture about the dentist when talking about dental work in the presence of your children and try to portray the dentist as someone always ready to help you! ●
Be a Role Model
Even if you are not a huge fan of the dentist, do your best not to make this obvious because studies show that adults can pass their dental anxiety on to their children. Try your best to look relaxed and happy whenever you go into the dental clinic or talk about visiting the dentist with your child. When they see that you enjoy going to the dentist and do so regularly, it can help them develop a positive association with the dentist. ●
Talk to Them About Oral Health
It's a great idea to discuss the importance of keeping your teeth clean with your child. Developing oral hygiene practices at an early age is very important to preventing cavities and dental problems later on. You can also talk about the dental visit a few days before the actual
appointment and explain what will take place and what they should expect, but be sure to use words they will understand. ●
See a Family Dentist
Seeing a family dentist makes life a lot easier for parents and booking an appointment for your entire family at the same time can lessen your child’s dental anxiety. Family dentists have extra training in children’s dentistry and now how to make the dentist a fun experience for kiddos. Vist the Top Family Dentist Are you looking for a family dentist near Parker, CO? Rippe Dental Associates has years of experience in working with children and families in the Parker community. Schedule an appointment for your family today by calling our office at (303) 779-9876 and visit our website for more information! https://www.drrippe.com/request-appointment