How to Reduce Your Child's Dental Anxiety

Many people experience dental anxiety, but children are especially prone to this issue. Dental anxiety is extremely common, but it does not have to be a permanent fixture in your child’s life. There are multiple ways you can help reduce dental anxiety for your child. Dr. Jeni Kong can help you find ways to achieve this goal. Schedule a consultation with Apple Tree Pediatric Dentistry in Lawrenceville, GA to learn more about how dental anxiety can affect your child’s dental health.

What is dental anxiety?

Dental anxiety is fear and stress around going to the dentist. It is a very common issue that both adults and children deal with. There can be many causes for this anxiety in children, such as bad experiences, learned anxiety, inadequate preparation, and many more. Your child’s dental anxiety can be associated with dentistry in general, or it can be attached to a specific procedure or dental tool. If your child experiences dental anxiety, our office offers sedation dentistry. This includes nitrous oxide sedation, oral-conscious sedation, and hospital dentistry. Dr. Jeni can help you find the best option for your child. If your child deals with dental anxiety, contact Apple Tree Pediatric Dentistry in Lawrenceville, GA to learn more about how Dr. Jeni can help.

What can I do to help reduce my child’s dental anxiety?

Dental anxiety may seem like a hard thing to overcome, but with the right tips and tricks, you can help your child feel safe at the dentist’s office. There are multiple ways you can reduce dental anxiety, including:

• Use positive reinforcements: Using dental care as a threat to your child for not brushing their teeth is usually ineffective and can actually cause more harm than good. Instead, let them pick out their toothbrush or play a song while they brush. This can help your child associate oral hygiene with good memories.
• Take a comforting item with you to the dentist: Bringing an item such as a loved blanket or a stuffed animal can help reduce anxiety. However, you should call ahead and make sure that your dentist is okay with this.
• Go to a pediatric dentist: Pediatric dentists are specifically trained in working with children. A pediatric dentist, like Dr. Jeni, can help keep your child calm and relaxed during their appointment.
• Read books: We also recommend reading books about going to the dentist to help reduce anxiety.
• Watch videos with your child: We recommend searching for videos that show going to the dentist, and watching them together with parents at home to get them prepared.
• Play games that feature a dentist: Kids love to play pretend, so if you play games with your child that has a dentist, you can reduce the anxiety your child feels around the real thing.

We offer options, such as using laughing gas (nitrous oxide) or oral conscious sedation, to help children combat dental anxiety if they are to receive dental treatment. If you do not reduce your child’s dental anxiety, it could cause issues for their future oral health. However, by using these techniques, you can help build a healthy relationship between your child and their dentist and start reducing any dental anxiety they may feel.

Where can I get dental treatment for my child in Lawrenceville, GA

Dental anxiety can be severe in your child, but you can also help them overcome this. There are many different ways to help reduce dental anxiety, and with Dr. Jeni’s help, you can find the option that best fits your child’s needs. Contact Apple Tree Pediatric Dentistry in Lawrenceville, GA for a full consultation on the overall state of your child’s dental and oral health.