Dental treatments represent a quite stressful activity that can influence all its participants, especially children. Children often show their distress with an aversive behaviour which sometimes leads to management problems.
According to an article in the European journal, parents play a key role in children’s behaviour at the dental office. An anxious or fearful parent can adversely affect the child’s behaviour during dental treatment. Additionally, some studies suggest a strong correlation between maternal anxiety and similar behaviour of children who were undergoing dental treatment.
We at Molonglo Dental Surgery understand the challenges parents/primary caregivers face in convincing and bringing their children to our dental office for treatment. Therefore with the help of this article, we will provide you with a few approaches and cues to make your child’s first dental visit less challenging.
Importance of the Pre-Appointment Phone Call
- Speaking to your child’s dentist before an appointment is recommended. Understanding the procedure of the check-up and the probability of your child’s uncooperative behaviour may help you be better prepared for the first appointment. In addition, this will establish a rapport with your child’s dentist and help in addressing your concerns, if any.
Molonglo Dental Surgery prides itself on providing dentistry for kids in Canberra. You may call us on 02 6287 1222 for your child’s/ward’s dental appointment.
Pre-Appointment Preparation
To provide successful dental care to children, dentists cannot simply adopt their usual techniques. They must modify them to suit the unique needs of the paediatric patient population.
Children often wish for a routine and familiarity. New environments and conditions can be bothersome and result in negative behaviours. Preparation before the first dental appointment can lay the foundation for a successful dental visit.
The following recommendations from our team at Molonglo Dental Surgery may help in alleviating your apprehensions as well as those of your child:
Media and Storytelling: You may read a story or watch a video with your child about a kid going to the dentist for the first time. Animated episodes of Peppa Pig or the musical shows of The Wiggles depict the benefits of a dental visit and its fun elements. Children relate to these characters, which helps ease fear.
Positive Language: Avoid unfavourable references or false promises like "the dentist will not hurt you" or "you will receive a treat or toy." Instead, use encouraging statements like "the dentist will simply count your teeth" or "the dentist wants to check your teeth for bugs."
Optimal Scheduling: Ensure your child is well-rested before the visit. Schedule a morning appointment if your child is most receptive early in the day, or opt for a post-nap slot if they are in a better mood later.
Roleplaying at Home: Play "dentist" together at home. Let your child inspect and count your teeth first, then swap roles. Practice opening wide and talking about the tongue to build comfort with oral exams.
Parental Calmness: Children pick up on adult tone, body language, and facial expressions. Remaining calm and relaxed during the appointment helps your child feel secure.
Addressing Parental Dental Anxiety: If you or the primary caregiver experience dental fear, reach out to us prior to the visit to speak with a dentist specializing in anxiety at our clinic.
Older Siblings as Role Models: Bringing a confident older sibling along can set a wonderful example and reassure the younger child during their turn in the dental chair.
Mindful Word Choice: Avoid intimidating words such as "shot," "drill," "needle," or "x-ray." Reframe these concepts gently, such as explaining that "the tooth doctor will take pictures of your teeth."
Behaviour During the Appointment
Often, despite following the aforementioned directions, your child’s behaviour may still remain hostile towards the dentist. In that case, the following information may help you cope with that crisis:
Early Familiarization: Bringing children for their first visit around age 2 helps them grow accustomed to the clinic environment and build a trusting relationship with their dentist over time.
Support Through Tears: It is completely normal if your child cries or throws a tantrum in an unfamiliar setting. Remaining calm and supportive allows the dental team to work together with you to comfort your child.
We at Molonglo Dental Surgery understand kids are uncomfortable sitting in an adult dental chair, being in an unfamiliar environment, looking at intimidating instruments, and having a bright light shone in their face.
Therefore we take the utmost pride in announcing that Molonglo Dental Surgery is the first dental practice in the whole of Canberra to install the Dinosaur Chair! In addition to its many extraordinary elements, the Dino Chair is a paediatric-focused innovation that paves the way for successful treatment outcomes.
To know more about this wonderful installation and how it could help you and your child/ward, visit our website at Molonglo Dental Surgery Dino Chair.
Gentle First Exams: Initial visits focus primarily on gentle visual examinations. X-rays and drills are generally avoided unless an urgent condition requires immediate attention.
Preventive Fluoride Care: Your friendly Canberra dentist might recommend a professional fluoride application every 6 months to strengthen enamel against cavities. Contact your kid-friendly dentist on 02 6287 1222 to learn more.
Practicing at Home: Encourage your child to practice keeping their mouth open without talking, which helps streamline clinical checks during their appointment.
Direct Communication: Allow your child to speak directly with the dentist. Enabling a one-on-one dialogue fosters trust and helps the child feel comfortable in the practitioner's care.
Children are innocent and lack maturity. A child who begins cooperating at the start of an appointment may begin fretting and squirming suddenly in the dental chair and refuse treatment. At these times, the appointment may have to be shortened or rescheduled.
However, it must be noted that each time your child visits the dentist, he/she will steadily develop a trustworthy bond with the dentist. Subsequently, your child will also be more likely to be willing to learn good oral hygiene skills and will want to take good care of their teeth. As we know, children who acquire good oral hygiene routines will carry these habits into their adult life.
Therefore at Molonglo Dental Surgery, we recommend to our wonderful parents/primary caregivers, unless the attitude or treatment of a dentist is grossly inappropriate, avoid visiting multiple dentists for your or your child’s treatment.
As a wise man once said, “Sometimes real superheroes live in the hearts of small children fighting big battles.” All that our little superheroes need is a good laugh and ample care.
