Reducing Dental Anxiety in Children

We at Bernstein Dental Care in Bay Ridge want children to learn good oral hygiene habits early, and one of those habits is making bi-annual trips to the dentist for cleanings. Unfortunately, fear of the dentist also often begins at an early age, which is why we want to help parents make sure their children’s visits go as smoothly as possible.


The best approach is to tell your child that the dentist and hygienists are helpful people who are going to clean their teeth and make sure they’re healthy. It’s not a good idea to go into detailed descriptions of different procedures since most of these probably won’t be necessary. We can explain what we’re going to do, give demonstrations with our instruments, and let your child settle into the chair when you and your child arrive.


Children should begin seeing the dentist when their first tooth emerges and it's best if parents treat dental visits casually, like they’ve always been a normal part of life. Often, when a child is nervous, it’s because their parent is signaling their own discomfort. If you tell your child it’s important to be brave, you may be sending the message there is something to be afraid of. Generally, it’s good for siblings to make their visits together, so the older one will want to set a good example and the younger one will see nothing bad is going to happen.


Dr. Paul Bernstein runs Bernstein Dental Care at 350 91st St, Suite 1C, Brooklyn, New York, 11209. To schedule an appointment, visit BernsteinDentalCare.com or call 718-833-9191.


 

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