Kids need to understand that every time they visit the dentist, they’re doing good things for their mouth and their overall health.

A little prep work goes a long way to making it a positive experience

With care trips to the dentist don’t have to be overwelming for little ones.

The first step is to find out why your child is anxious. In some cases, it’s because something hurt or startled them during a previous examination or treatment; sometimes it’s because they’ve heard stories about other people’s fear of the dentist or their painful experiences with an infected tooth or sore gums because of failure to visit a dentist.

“There is also the fear of the unknown. Children may be nervous if they have no knowledge of what is about to happen. Many children are also afraid of certain noises that may happen during a dental visit,” says Dr. Jason Noel, a dentist in Bay Roberts NL , and president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Dental Association.

Show, tell and do

Your dentist can help alleviate these fears by using what is commonly called the ‘show, tell and do technique’. The dentist, for example, will show the child an instrument, explain what will be done with it, and then use the instrument. In many cases, the dentist will alert the child about the sound an instrument will make and let the child hear the noise before the drill or other tool is used.

Do your prep work

In advance of the visit, it’s a good idea to prepare your child generally for a trip to the dentist. Ask if there are any questions, and give simply and straightforward answers. In the absence of questions, explain why your child is going to the dentist and why it’s important to have healthy gums and teeth.

“Let the dentist answer more complex or detailed questions,” Dr. Noel recommends. “Dentists are trained to describe things to children in a non-threatening way and in easy-to-understand language.”

What you don’t want to do as an adult is inadvertently add to a child’s discomfort and uncertainty. Sometimes the language used can create a ripple of fear. Words like “hurt,” and “painful,” for example, set up an expectation the visit will not be pleasant. So do statements like “Be a brave, girl,” no matter how cheery the tone.

Then there is the one dreaded word that can make the heartiest little souls (and even big ones) quiver—needle. Adults may want to leave the opportunity for discussion for the dentist and the child. However, if your son or daughter asks about needles, answer honestly. Let them know that dentists sometimes use needles to make little boys and girls more comfortable during their visit. You can let them know their cheek might tingle a little, and they want just might have a really cool drool for a few hours afterwards.

For younger kids who are going to the dentist for the first time, or who have not been in some time, there are plenty of books available for them to read. There is an entire series of Berenstein Bears books, but be forewarned: they do discuss getting teeth filled and pulled. Other titles to tempt little ones to learn more about their oral health and the dentist include Dora Goes to the Dentist featuring Dora the Explorer. Sticker activity books that focus on visiting the dentist are also available.

Bring activity books

On the day of the visit, bring activity books for your child to read or toys to play with while waiting for the dentist or hygienist, and try to relax yourself. Kids are amazing barometers. They register the tone around them and quickly catch on that there is something making mom or dad nervous.

Another cause of fear often crops up when it’s time to go the dentist’s chair: leaving mom or dad behind. If it helps, a parent can accompany their child to the treatment room. Stand back and let the dentist answer questions, explain what is happening, and establish a relationship with the child.

Children who are frightened can act out in a number of ways, everything from crying uncontrollably to throwing a temper tantrum. It’s important to have a quiet, calm child for the examination. “Children and even adults that are fearful are less co-operative and can tend to be jumpy. It can interfere with the ability to examine and treat these patients,” notes Dr. Noel.

Offering children a reward for going to the dentist is not effective. It reinforces the impression that going to the dentist is something out of the ordinary and kids deserve to be “paid” for accommodating the request. On the other hand, one successful approach to helping kids feel good about the visit is to give them a certificate when the examination is over. Parents can prepare this in advance (the CDA’s website offers a certificate that can be printed out : http://www.cda-adc.ca/en/oral_health/smile_certificate/default.asp) and the dentist can present it when their little patient is leaving.

Make it part of the routine

Familiarity often breeds comfort. The more routine a visit to the dentist becomes, as part of a child’s routine health care, the less likely they are to be afraid when an appointment draws near. If, on the other hand, they only go to the dentist when there is a problem—a toothache or cavity that needs to be filled—they will come to associate the dentist with things that are unpleasant.

Ultimately, kids need to understand that every time they visit the dentist, they’re doing good things for their mouth and their overall health. It’s enough to make a parent smile.