Dental anxiety is mostly common in children, however if your child is going through such a situation then it can be a serious concern for you as parents. Understanding how a Pediatric Dentist for Dental Anxiety could help to address those common fears can add a positive aspect in a child’s dental treatment.
There are numerous reasons to get dental anxiety in children, which we’ll discuss about a few in this blog. Also, we’ll discuss Pediatric Dental Care for Anxious Kids and how to overcome them.
What Scares Your Child?
Recognizing the root causes of a child’s dental anxiety is the first step in reducing their symptoms. A child’s concerns may not always have a specific reason. However, the most common fears among children who have dental anxiety are:
1. Difficulty in Breathing
Both the examination and the cleaning portion of a dental appointment require the patient to keep their jaws open. This posture might make normal breathing challenging, particularly for children who tend to breathe through their mouths.
For children who have had dental procedures involving gauze or equipment left in their mouths for a long time, it has seemed like more difficulty in breathing during the operation. Regardless of its actual danger, it might be enough to induce anxiety for the next time they visit the Pediatric dentist.
2. Having No Control
Having someone else’s hands in their mouth as they lay in a dentist’s chair might make young children feel helpless. They may be unable to express how something makes them think if their mouth is covered.
This is a terrifying condition for children since it prevents them from acting on their impulse to flee from something unpleasant. Children should be able to have some say in their dental treatment, and a Pediatric dentist for anxious children will help them do just that. While brushing their teeth, children may be given a television remote control or taught a hand gesture to indicate when anything hurts.
3. Discomfort
How to Choose a Pediatric Dentist can really be a daunting task to patients of all ages. And the discomfort that they go through through their dental treatment procedures is something very difficult. However, pain and unpleasantness are real possibilities from time to time, particularly during dental procedures.
Maybe the dentist who worked on your kid was rough or didn’t give them enough anesthetic before the treatment. Children may develop a fear of the dentist even for routine checkups after that traumatic event. Sedation techniques may lessen a child’s arousal to pain and suffering during dental procedures, even if they do need them.
4. Fear for No Reason
Why a child is scared of going to the dentist might sometimes be a mystery. Perhaps they overheard an older or younger person talking about how awful a dental operation was. The combination of the dentist’s office’s noises and scents triggers a sensory problem for them. Their worry stems from a lack of knowledge about what is ahead.
Anxieties about the dentist might be based on a fear of the unknown. Children who haven’t had many dental exams or have gone too long between appointments could be anxious about the procedure. Alternatively, they could have needed to remember the details of their previous appointment.
Ways a Pediatric Dentists Help with Children’s Dental Anxiety
Making good memories at the dentist early on is essential for kids because it helps them feel comfortable visiting the dentist regularly. Kids who don’t get scared or nervous when they go to the doctor are likelier to take care of their teeth than adults. When kids fear dentists, they often don’t go to the doctor as adults unless they have an emergency.
Without further ado, here are some ways a dentist can help kids who are scared of the dentist:
1. Create an area that is safe for kids
Many youth Pediatric dentist for kids put a lot of thought into making their offices fun and friendly for kids. This can include bright decorations, a play area, and fun things for kids to do. A child is less likely to feel worried when they are in a place they know and enjoy.
Kids only go to pediatric dentists’ offices specially made to meet their needs. The helpers are also trained to help kids feel calm and at ease during treatments. Often, these centers have the newest games and toys for kids to help them remember good times when they go to the dentist. Even the pediatric dentist’s tools to treat kids are made to fit their smaller mouths.
2. Encourages Open Communication
A big part of kids’ oral nervousness comes from fear of what they don’t know. This can be avoided by having the dentist explain each step of the process in a way that the child can understand. Whether you call a dentistry tool a “tooth tickler” or show the child how it works on their hand first, telling them about it can take the fear out of the experience. Knowing what will happen during a dental treatment can help people of all ages feel more at ease.
3. Gives you good feedback
Rewarding kids for being brave or working together can make a big difference. Some words of comfort during the process or a small toy or sticker at the end of the visit can do the trick. These benefits improve the current stay and set an excellent example for future trips.
4. Let kids get sedation treatment
Sedation dentistry can be a choice for kids who are scared of the doctor or need long treatments. This means putting the child to sleep with safe and effective sedatives while they get dental work done. But this must only be done under the watchful eye of trained professionals who can always ensure the child’s safety.
Nitrous oxide, also known as “laughing gas,” is the most popular drug used to calm down kids. Patients feel happy and calm after taking this safe tranquilizer, which starts to work in minutes.
5. Allows parents to be involved in treatment
A known face can help ease nervousness by being there. Parents or guardians can often stay in the room with their kids, hold their hands, or even have the kids sit on their laps while the process continues. Being here with you can make all the difference in the world.
6. Secures modern equipment made just for kids
The equipment used in dentist offices today offers a lot of Pediatric dental checkups benefits that are less invasive and more comfortable. The tools are faster and quieter, the treatments hurt less, and the methods have come a long way. This technology can help kids feel less scared when visiting the dentist’s office. Pediatric dentists usually use lightweight instruments that are less scary and fit better in kids’ mouths.
7. Treat each child individually
Each child is different. Some people may not be able to use what works for someone else. Pediatric dentistry with a lot of experience know this and usually have several ways to help kids. This allows them to find the best way to help each child deal with their worries and fears.
We Can Offer You A Hand Of Pediatric Dentist For Anxious Children
Pediatric Dental Care for Anxious Kids is a real concern, however, it can be overcomed with proper dental practices. Also, a caring and expert pediatric dentist might be the major reason behind it. If your child is going through any dental anxiety situations then you can reach out to an expert team at Cass Dental Care, a Pediatric dental clinic in Darien.
