Dental anxiety is a common type of problem found in kids related to dental fear and nervousness that is produced by dental appointments. This type of dental anxiety is also known as dental fear, dental phobia, or odontophobia. Basically, things like strange sounds, unfamiliar surroundings, or fear of extreme pain can make appointments more stressful for any kid. If your kid is also facing dental anxiety, visit family and cosmetic dentist Toluca Lake, CA, for stressless procedures.
How can a dentist calm your kid suffering from dental anxiety?
Children’s fear of visiting any doctor is a common problem that most parents have to face. There are relatively many reasons why kids have to suffer from dental anxiety, and the main reason is because of the strange and stressful environment for kids. There are many ways in which your pediatric dentist can help your kid who is suffering from dental anxiety; some of the common ways may include:
Communication is essential if the kids are old enough
Cases like these need the attention of kids because of their young age to make them solely understand dental health, which will help them deal with dental anxiety. Effective and open communication with the younger kids is essential to make them feel at ease. Here, the pediatric dental practice can help you. They mainly use visual aids and simple language to help the children understand and communicate.
Make the atmosphere child-friendly
If you have seen your child being scared of the dental office, you have to realize that it may be high time you need to change the pediatric dentist for your kid. You may choose a more kid-friendly environment for your child that is less stressful for them. Generally, pediatric dentists use decorative items, like toys, or make the environment more playful for them, which helps them to feel more relaxed than usual.
Using some distraction techniques
If your child is more focused on anxiety and fear, it may not help them to stay relaxed during the dental treatment. That is why all pediatric dentists use distraction techniques to make the child more comfortable so that the dental treatment can be smoother. They use music, videos, games, or toys to help the kids stay distracted.
Positive reinforcement techniques.
Pediatric dentists also use the technique of praise and encouragement to help the kid feel more relaxed. Generally, after every treatment, the dentist will give the kid some treat or a reward to make them feel more appreciated and praised. This pediatric dentist technique helps them make positive connections with the kid for a smooth procedure.
What are the things through which dental anxiety is triggered?
Dental anxiety can be triggered by many things that the kid encounters during the visit to the dentist. The main reason for dental anxiety can be the use of anesthesia by the dentist to make the gum numb for a temporary time. The following reason can be because of blood; the fear of blood is called hemophobia, and the kid may panic after seeing minor blood. Feeling pain: the amount of pain for younger kids is more than that of an adult; lastly, the other reason can be because of needles. This fear may occur after seeing injections during the dental procedure.
Frequently asked questions
In what ways cosmetic dental treatment can cause anxiety in kids?
Procedures that may include cosmetic, tooth whitening, braces, or veneers cause intense pain in children. This type of pain causes more problems to deal with the kids in the future since the pain is intense, they can resist the procedure. Even non-invasive procedures can trigger younger children.
What is the role of parents in helping their child go through dental anxiety?
Parents play a crucial role; they help the child to be more calm and relaxed at the time of dentistry visit. They can also change the pediatric dentist for the child.