Friday, March 20, 2015

Calming an Anxious Child or a Child with Dental Anxiety

A child’s first dental visit is the perfect time to set the stage for all other visits, no matter how much work needs to be done in your child’s mouth.

Positive comments, an uplifting voice, a happy attitude, and of course, lots of smiles will help make the experience a good one. 
If you’re anxious, your child will be anxious. If you’re relaxed, your child will be relaxed. So relax. Going to the dentist is a good thing. For your child’s teeth and overall health.
If your child does have dental anxiety or behavioral issues at the first dental visit, your pediatric dentist knows what to do to remedy the situation. Several techniques can be applied to counteract that behavior, including:
Praise 
Something will go right. Your child will do something well, and your pediatric dentist will point it out. This is, by far, the most preferred tactic.
Voice control 
This usually takes care of any behavior that may be deemed unsafe. We certainly don’t want a child to hurt themselves because they’re scared. A calm, yet firm voice usually curbs unsafe behavior.
Sedation 
In extreme cases, mild sedation, such as nitrous oxide (laughing gas) or a liquid sedative may be suggested. This is a very safe and common approach to calming a restless child down for a dental examination.

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