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How can I lessen my child’s fear of the dentist?

How can I lessen my child’s fear of the dentist?

How can I lessen my child’s fear of the dentist?

Developed as a result of schoolyard rumours, personal experiences or even your own feelings, fear of the dentist is still a common occurrence amongst Australian children – preventing many young smiles from receiving the quality dental care they need to stay healthy.

With this in mind at East Bentleigh Dental Group we have developed six top tips to help combat ‘fear of the dentist’ (also known as dental phobia):

Tip #1: Find a dentist that is good with children

For parents, selecting a good family dentist can be one of the most crucial decisions when it comes to helping your child forge healthy oral habits for life, and can ensure that your child experiences positive associations with dental care from a very young age.

Choosing a dentist for your child can be a tough decision, and one of the first places to start is by looking at their website – do they have a dedicated children’s dentistry page? Do they offer any extra child friendly services? At East Bentleigh Dental Group we go one step further to ensure children enjoy the visits to our practice by offering dedicated “Tooth Fairy Dental Professionals”.

Tip #2: Keep your own fears to yourself

Does the thought of visiting the dentist make you cringe? Expressing fears and negative attitudes towards dental care yourself can massively influence the development of dental phobia for your children. If you find yourself experiencing dental phobia visit our Melbourne practice today and experience our difference – our team of dentists specialise in virtually pain-free dentistry, and can have you and your child smiling throughout each visit.

Tip #3: Explain to your child why having a healthy mouth is important

When you are helping your child brush their teeth, make sure you regularly remind them how important brushing, flossing and visits to the dentist are for them. Use easy terms that they can relate to and before their dental appointment, let your little one know what to expect. If you are unsure about how best to explain this to them, our friendly team of dentists can help you.

Tip #4: Avoid ‘scary’ words associated with dentistry

Some words like “needle”, “drill” or “pain” can evoke anxiety and fear in your child. Keep it simple and positive whilst speaking to your child about dental care, and answer all of their questions with a calm attitude.

Tip #5 Let your dentist know your child experiences dental phobia

If you notice your child is a little uneasy leading up to their appointment, tell your dentist in confidence so they can assist the transition. At East Bentleigh Dental Group our team has years of experience building trustworthy, positive relationships with children of all ages, and will strive to make each visit comfortable as possible.

Tip #6 Take your child to visit the dentist regularly

The more familiar your child is with visits to the dentist, the more comfortable they will feel – which is why we recommend children visit our dental practice at least every 6 months. These regular visits also ensure that the health of your child’s smile is maintained, and helps to educate them from an early age about proper oral hygiene practice.

At East Bentleigh Dental Group your child’s oral health is important to us, and we welcome all families to consider our practice when choosing a family dentist. To find out more about our children’s dental services, or to book an appointment with one of our dedicated tooth fairy dentists, please contact us on 9575 1100 and experience the EBDG difference.

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