How to Make a Pediatric Dental Visit a Positive Experience for Kids

14 Jan How to Make a Pediatric Dental Visit a Positive Experience for Kids

Something that all of us need to do, regardless of our age, is see our dentist on an annual basis. Yet, sometimes the thought of X-rays, drills, and other dental tools can make even the most mature person a bit jittery. That’s why it’s understandable if your children are not super excited about going to see the dentist. However, the good news is that there are several things that you can do to put their mind at ease and make it more of a positive rather than a negative experience.

If you’d like some helpful tips on ways that you can better prepare your kids for their upcoming dental visit, check these five ways out:

Select a kid-friendly dental office

If your kids walk into a dental office that’s nothing but white and all they see is the dentist chair and tools, there’s a pretty good chance that they are going to automatically be intimidated. But, if they go into one that is colorful, is full of toys, and has staff members who are extra-friendly, it will help to put them at ease. That’s why it’s important to look for a dental office that specializes in working with children. That tip alone can make all the difference in the world.

Talk to them about it beforehand

No one wants to find themselves pulling up into a dental office parking lot without knowing that was where they were headed in the first place. By taking the time to talk to your kids about their upcoming dental visit a couple of weeks before time, it will give them time to ask as many questions as they need in order to make them feel as comfortable as possible about going.

Read stories about going to the dentist

Thankfully, there are all kinds of books on the market about kids going to the dentist; some for the very first time. Some of our personal favorites include First Time Dentist, Curious George Visits the Dentist, Visiting the Dentist, The Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist, and Topsy and Tim: Go to the Dentist. By reading these to your children at night, it’s just one more way to make them feel better about visiting the dentist.

Bring distractions

If after searching for a dental office that offers dental care for kids, you decide to go with Family Dental, especially if it happens to be your children’s first time going, be sure to pack up some things that will keep them entertained like toys and video games and perhaps even their favorite movie or cartoon. They can play with their toys and games while they’re in the waiting room and many dental offices have televisions in each room so that your kids can watch a show that they like during their exam or procedure.

Do something fun afterward

Children always like to have something to look forward to. So, let your kids pick a fun activity following their visit. Whether it’s going to their favorite restaurant, watching a movie at the theater, or stopping for some ice cream, knowing that something is coming after the dentist’s visit will help to keep them optimistic about going in the first place.