Calming The Anxious Child

How do our doctors help your child deal with dental anxiety? Both Drs. Sarah and Kristen have special training in helping anxious children feel secure during their dental treatment. The dental office itself is a space designed for children. Our staff members choose to work in a pediatric dental practice because they like kids. All of these factors come together thereby reducing stress for your child.  Most children that come to the office will be calm, comfortable and confident in the surroundings.

Dr. Sarah and Dr. Kristen use a “Tell-Show-Do” technique in their daily work. Before a procedure, the doctor will tell the child about a dental instrument, then show the instrument and how it is used to the child, for example, by using it to count the child’s fingers. Once the child is comfortable, the doctor will then "do" by using the instrument in the child's mouth. This kind of informational dentistry helps the child understand what is going on step by step.

The modeling technique pairs a timid child in dental treatment with a cooperative child of similar age. Coaching, distraction and parent participation are other possibilities to give your child confidence in their dental experience. But, by far, the most preferred technique is praise. Every child does something right during their dental visit, and Dr. Sarah and Dr. Kristen always lets the child know that.

Infants and some young children may feel more confident when they have their parent or parents close during their treatment. With older children, doctor-child communication is often enhanced if parents remain in the reception room. We leave that decision to the parent.

Occasionally a child’s behavior during the treatment process requires assertive management to protect that child from possible injury. Voice control (speaking calmly but firmly) usually takes care of this. Some children need gentle restraints of the arms or legs as well and is usually done with the help of a parent simply by holding the child's arms or legs. Mild sedation such as nitrous oxide/oxygen may also be beneficial to an anxious child.