The dentist’s office can be a scary place for anyone, but especially for children.

1. Turn Your Child’s Visit to the
Dentist Into an Exciting Adventure

2. The dentist’s office can be a scary place for anyone, but especially
for children. Children can feel powerless sitting in a strange chair
with their mouths open, and a dentist’s tools look mysterious.
But you can take certain steps to ensure that your own children
will have a comfortable visit to the dentist’s office.
To prevent your child from being afraid of the dentist, try to
speak about your office visit as an exciting experience. Instead of
saying, “Sorry, buddy, we have to visit the dentist today,” you
could say, “Guess what? We get to visit the dentist today!” Most
people respond well to positive associations, and children are
probably more susceptible than anyone else. Hearing the
dentist’s office spoken of in such a positive light will help your
child to associate that office with positive thoughts, instead of
scary ones.

3. You can also make your visit to the dentist into a larger outing by
visiting the zoo or a museum beforehand. Doing this can help to
encourage your child to think of a visit to the dentist as a fun
excursion, the way he or she might think of going to the zoo.
Again, this will encourage your child to think of the dentist’s
office in a positive light.
Once you’ve reached the dentist’s office, whether you’re seated in
a waiting room or with your child in the examination room, try
to act in a calm and relaxed manner. Children have a remarkable
ability to sense what their parents are feeling. If you give off an
air of tension and stress, your children might sense it and grow
tense themselves. On the other hand, if you act content and
relaxed, your children will see that there is nothing to fear.

4. You could also invent a game to play with your child during their
examination. Ask your child to notice and remember five
interesting things during their exam. They can tell you all about
their list afterwards.
After you’ve left the dentist’s office, you might also try rewarding
your child for their good behavior. Take your child out for a
special treat to show them once more that the dentist’s office is
surrounded by positive things. Your child will also learn that
enduring dreaded experiences can pay off. You might find your
child more willing to try other experiences that he or she might
have been afraid of before.
Visit the Dental Office in Apex to learn more about what your
child can expect from their visit.