Tips to Help Kids Fear of Dentists - Bryan Marshall DDS

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• Bryan Marshall DDS - Tips to Help Kids Fear of
  Dentists

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Bryan Marshall DDS - Tips to Help Kids Fear of
Dentists
Taking kids to the dentist is necessary to keep
their teeth healthy and promote excellent oral
hygiene habits. But from a child's point of view,
a trip to the dentist can be a scary event lying
on a chair in an unfamiliar room filled with
unfamiliar noises and objects, all while a
stranger is poking cold, metallic, and unusual
instruments in his mouth. Plus, as your child's
teeth continue to fall out and grow, he may take
at least 10 trips to the dentist before starting
kindergarten.
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Bryan Marshall DDS - Start Young
The earlier a child visits the dentist, the
better. "This will provide your child with a
'dental home' where all her needs -- whether a
periodic preventive visit or an emergency -- will
be taken care of," says Rhea Haugseth, D.M.D.,
president of the American Academy of Pediatric
Dentistry. It's best that the first visit starts
at age 1 or when the first tooth is visible.
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Bryan Marshall DDS - Keep It Simple
When preparing for a visit, especially the first
time, try not to include too many details. Doing
so will raise more questions, and adding more
information about an extra treatment like a
filling he might need may cause unnecessary
anxiety. Keep a positive attitude when discussing
an upcoming visit, but don't give your child
false hope. "Avoid saying that everything will be
fine, because if you child ends up needing a
treatment, he might lose trust in both the
dentist and you," says Bryan Marshall , D.D.S
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Bryan Marshall DDS - Watch Your Words
"Don't use the 'S' (shot),'H' (hurt) or 'P'
(pain) words with children. Let the staff
introduce their own vocabulary to children to
help them get through difficult situations," Dr.
Berg suggests. Instead, tell your child that the
dentist is looking for "sugar bugs" so he can
clean them off their teeth. "My favorite thing to
have parents tell their child is that we are
going to check their smile and count their teeth
-- that's it, nothing else," says Bryan Marshall
DDS, a pediatric dentist in McKee Rocks,
Pennsylvania, and a national spokesperson of the
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.
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Bryan Marshall DDS - Consider a Pretend Visit
Before the first dentist appointment, play
pretend with your child to be the dentist and the
patient, Bryan Marshall DDS says. All you'll need
is a toothbrush. Count your little one's teeth by
starting with the number 1 or the letter A. Avoid
making drilling noises or lining up other
"instruments." You can even hold up a mirror and
show her how the dentist might look at and check
her teeth. Then let your child role-play by using
a toothbrush to clean the teeth of a stuffed
animal or doll. The key is getting her familiar
with the routine so that she's more comfortable
for the real visit.
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Bryan Marshall DDS - Do Not Try to Relate
Some parents take their children with them to
their own dentist appointment, but experts say
this is a mistake. Parents themselves might feel
anxious about the visit without even realizing
it, and their child might sense those fears.
Telling "war stories" about extractions, root
canals, or other negative experiences will also
trigger anxiety, especially because your child
may not even have those procedures. Taking your
child to a sterile, adult office also gives the
wrong impression, whereas most pediatric dentists
make their offices kid-friendly -- some have
video games, pleasing pictures on the walls, and
movies or TV shows kids enjoy.
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Bryan Marshall DDS - Prepare for Some Fussing
"It is normal and age-appropriate for a young
child to cry, whine, wiggle, and not want to be
examined by a stranger," Bryan Marshall DDS
points out. "Stay calm and remember that the
dentist and her staff are used to working with
children and have seen their share of tantrums."
Let the dental care professionals guide you they
might ask you to stay at a distance or to hold
your little one's hand, which will provide
comfort and prevent him from grabbing any dental
instruments.
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VISIT your TRUSTED DENTIST
Bryan Marshall DDS Brooksville, FL Zip Code
-34613 Cortez Boulevard United States
www.UMDC.com.au
http//bryanmarshalldds.com