Top 5 Ways to Ease Your Child’s Dental Fear

You know dental care for your little one is necessary, but you can’t stand to see him so upset and scared whenever you visit the dentist. The bright lights, the reclined chair, the gloved hands and masked face, it’s understandable that some of our smallest patients may be afraid. At our pediatric dental office in Long Island, we understand, and we’re here to help.

• Start Early. The earlier you get your child to the dentist’s office, the better. It’s recommend a child experience their first dental visit around their first birthday. Not only does this expose your child to the dental office and give both you and him a chance to establish trust and comfort with this new experience, it allows you to make sure you’ve chosen the right dental office early on.
• Make it Fun. Prior to the first visit, it may be good idea to play pretend and simulate a dental visit in the comfort and familiarity of your home. Take turns being the patient and the doctor to give your child an idea of what to expect. Count teeth, look at them in a mirror, brush the grins on his favorite toys. If you’re really up for fun, a little bit of dress up can help too.
• Avoid Scary Words. As the adult, you may have your own fear of the dentist or perhaps a bad experience. Don’t talk about these with your child. In addition, avoid using words like “hurt,” “shot,” “pain.” Many times, practices like your pediatric dentist in Long Island have a very specific type of language they use with patients. Let us describe what’s going to happen. It’s our job.
• Communicate With Your Dentist. If you know your child has a dental fear and visits to the dentist are a bit stressful, tell your dentist. Dental teams are trained to recognize dental fear and we have ways to help. It’s best to honest from the beginning so they can start to ease anxiety right away.
• Visit Regularly. Like a lot of things, visits to the dentist get easier with repetition, so make sure to keep recommended appointments. Regular visits not only help ease any fear, they’re also crucial for catching potential problems early and treating them fast.

If it’s time to help your child overcome his fear of the dentist, give our Long Island pediatric dental office a call today. We’re committed to taking care of the most special smiles in a relaxing and gentle environment while keeping each and every patient comfortable and anxiety levels low.

Accepting patients from Long Island, Nassau, and Nassau County.

About The Author

Dr. Glen Ehrenman

In April this year, Dr. Glen Ehrenman received a Lifetime Diplomate status and an award from the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry (ABPD), where he has been a diplomate since 1995. Since 2010, he has been a clinical assistant professor and mentor at the State University of New York Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine. He has memberships with dental organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American Dental Association, New York State Dental Association, and the Nassau County Dental Society. His commitment to excellence earned him the Top DDS of 2012 award from Long Island Pulse Magazine.

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