Teaching Kids How To Cope At The Dentist

Tell, Show, Do

These are the three things that dentists will follow while treating a child. Tell them what you are about to do, show the instrument you are going to do it with and maybe even let them feel it to make them more comfortable and then use it.

This is a classic technique used to gain the trust of the patient and make them feel "in control" of the situation.

Modeling

For children who are having a hard time understanding what the doctor and parents are telling them or are refusing to trust their word, allowing them to see how other "model" patients their age behave is a very effective method.

This can be achieved with the help of elder siblings or even other unknown patients. The idea is to let the child and observe treatment procedures to realize that there is nothing that they need to be afraid of.

Positive/Negative Reinforcement

The dentist and the parents need to reinforce positive behavior by the child with encouragement and patience while gently letting the child know what kind of behavior is not acceptable.

For certain children who refuse to accept dental treatment even after all of these efforts, it may become necessary to use a combination of restraints, sedation and coercive measures to provide them with treatment. These practices have been abandoned to a large extent as they can instill a permanent fear of the dentist.

Only treatment that is absolutely necessary for such patients is provided up until they grow older and are better able to accept dental treatment.

Pedodontists

These are dentists that have specialized in providing care to children and been specifically trained in managing their behavior. It is a good idea to try and have your child be treated by pedodontists, particularly if they have demonstrated an unwillingness to accept dental treatment in the past. Most clinical practices nowadays have a pedodontist on board.

READ How To Get Your Child To Accept Dental Treatment?

Conclusion

Children are afraid of the unknown, which is why they are afraid of closed rooms or darkness or monsters that lurk under their beds. They are afraid of dental treatment because they do not know what to expect and have been fed poor information from various sources.

It is important to have patience and realize that the child requires understanding rather than being scolded. They need to be made to feel safe and reassured that nothing horrible is going to happen to them.

This information is most effective coming from the people that they trust most, their parents. Make sure that they receive the right information at an early age so that they do not have to face serious issues later in life.