My Little One Is Nervous About an Upcoming Dental Appointment

Sitting in a dentist’s chair surrounded by unfamiliar grown-ups wielding sharp tools is intimidating for kids. Studies show that nearly 24 percent of all children between the ages of 3 and 18 experience some degree of dental anxiety. 

What causes kids to fear the dentist, even before their first visit? What can be done to ease dental anxiety? Dr. Ben Peterson at High Desert Dental in Ontario, Oregon answers those questions and more, so you can turn going to the dentist into a positive experience for your little one.

What causes kids to fear the dentist?

Every child is unique, and dental anxiety develops for different reasons for everyone, but there are a few common culprits that may set off feelings of nervousness and fear in your child.

Taking cues from adults

Kids pick up on adult dental anxiety, so if you don’t like going to the dentist, chances are, neither will your child. Not only do they hear you talk about your upcoming appointments, they also sense your body language and can tell when you’re anxious about something. They trust you, so if you’re nervous, they adopt the same attitude.

Unfamiliar surroundings

Children find comfort in familiarity. They thrive when they can count on a routine, and they feel safe in the environments they know well. The dentist’s office is new and unfamiliar. Most kids feel intimidated in new environments until they learn that it’s a safe place. 

Strange sounds and smells

Dentists’ offices are filled with strange sounds and smells, like whirring drills and sterilizing solutions. For some kids, that’s enough to make them wary of the place.

Negative past experiences

If your child has already visited a dentist and had a negative experience, that can taint all future visits. 

How to ease your child’s dental anxiety

You know your child best, so there’s no one better to calm them when they’re nervous. In addition to your unique parenting skills, here are a few tips that may help turn your kid’s dental visit into a positive one.

Prioritize oral health

When you make it clear that oral health care is important, your kids will adopt that value as their own. When you brush their teeth and teach them how to care for them, weave in conversations about the dentist as a special kind of doctor who helps their teeth stay strong and healthy forever.

Involve your child in fun dental health games

In addition to modeling good oral hygiene and helping your child learn the necessary skills, you can also add some fun games into the mix to make it more entertaining. MouthHealthy.org offers several activities that promote healthy habits and reduce dental anxiety. 

Tap into their favorite media

If you don’t feel confident explaining dental visits and oral care to your child, there are many resources to help you. If your child enjoys cartoons, check out Peppa Pig Goes to the Dentist or Daniel Tiger Gets His Teeth Cleaned. There are also scores of children’s books that deal with dental care, so if your kid loves to read, you have lots of options.

Talk to them about what to expect

Kids don’t like to be surprised (unless it’s their birthday), so don’t spring their dentist visit on them. Let them know it’s coming up, and talk to them about what to expect. You can even role play to make it a fun game. Explain how the chair works and goes up and down. Let them know there'll be a bright light and some shiny tools that we’ll use to touch their teeth and make sure they’re healthy.

Bring music

They say music soothes the savage beast, and it also calms little ones when they get agitated. If your child has a favorite song that tends to relax them, consider bringing some headphones so they can listen to familiar melodies and block out the sounds around them.

Partner with a pediatric dentist

All dentists can take care of teeth, but it takes a certain skill and personality to care for the smallest patients. 

At High Desert Dental, we offer state-of-the-art pediatric dentistry, and Dr. Peterson loves treating children and helping them learn about how to make good oral hygiene a lifelong pursuit. He makes their appointments fun and positive. Our whole staff creates a welcoming and comfortable environment so your child will enjoy coming to see us.

If your child is ready for their first dental appointment, or if you have a child who has had a bad experience elsewhere, give us a call or use our online booking tool. We look forward to meeting you and your child.