Four Ways To Help Your Child Cope With Anxiety At The Dentist's Office

Anxiety about visiting the dentist affects children and adults alike, but there are ways that you can help to manage your child's anxiety about visiting the dentist. With a few simple coping strategies, you can give your child the support he or she needs and help to create a trusting relationship with your pediatric dentist. Here are a few options to consider as you work to manage your child's anxiety.

Create A Distraction

With some children, a distraction is a great way to help calm nerves while in the exam chair. The distraction can be as simple as bringing a favorite toy for your little one to hold. You may also want to consider bringing a tablet computer to play your child's favorite songs, which can help to distract him or her from the sounds of the dentist's office. Talk to your pediatric dentist about using headphones during the visit to assist with this type of distraction.

Engage In Positive Reinforcement

Letting your child know he or she is doing a good job during the visit can be helpful for his or her confidence, and it can also help to ease anxiety in some children. Be sure to discuss this coping strategy with your pediatric dentist ahead of time so the staff knows to make this part of the visit. Whenever your child does something "right" during the exam, such as opening his or her mouth wide, simply compliment your child on a job well done. You can also use rewards as positive reinforcement, such as letting your child know he or she can pick out a small toy at the end of the exam.

Use Breathing Exercises

Taking long, slow, and deep breaths can help to calm your child down during moments of fear or anxiety. In older children, you can talk through this exercise together as needed. In younger children, offering a bubble wand or small whistle can help to achieve the same effect without your child knowing he or she is even doing a relaxation exercise. Counting to a certain number can also help to slow things down when the situation becomes too intense.

Keep A Parent Present

Having a parent present for the exam can be enough to help a child stay calm in some cases. Let your pediatric dentist know you will be in the exam room, and offer to hold your child's hand throughout the appointment. Be sure to talk to your child from time to time just to reinforce that you are present and are there to keep him or her safe.

Use the coping strategies that work best for your child, and let him or her know that you will be there every step of the way to make sure everything goes well.