There’s nothing to fear here!
Kids tend to be scared of the dentist’s office. While there are a number of reasons for this anxiety, one of the biggest is a fear of the unknown. Children aren’t sure of exactly what’s going to happen when they’re in the dental chair, and they’re worried that the experience is going to be painful.
Our Burr Ridge pediatric dentist takes a multi-tiered approach to your child’s dental care. Between clear communication, sedation dentistry, and building patient-staff relationships, we help your kids feel right at home in the office. There are ways that you can help – read on to learn more about discussing dental exams with your kids to help get them informed and more comfortable with the process. And just fill out the form below to schedule your child’s next appointment:
Talking to Your Kids about Dental Exams
We do everything possible to educate your family about their dental care. But engaging in discussions about dental treatment at home is a great idea. Your kids trust you more than anyone else, and they’ll be comforted hearing about what happens during dental exams directly from your mouth.
We’ve put together a list of the important components of exams to help inspire discussion:
- X-rays – Reassure your kids that they won’t feel anything during the x-rays, and that these photos are a key part of spotting and preventing cavities before they become too severe.
- Exam – During the dental exam, a member of our staff will check your child’s teeth visually, with the aid of a dental mirror.
- Scaling – This is the part of the exam that most kids aren’t thrilled with – they’re worried that the scraping of their teeth will be uncomfortable. Remind them that their hygienist is removing plaque from their teeth, and the better they brush and floss, the quicker and more comfortable scaling will be.
- Polishing – Polishing puts a final sheen on the teeth and gets your kids’ smiles ready for anything!
- Fluoride treatment/sealants – These steps are optional and will not be performed at every exam, but it’s good to bring them up. While your kids might not like wearing the fluoride trays, let them know that the process will be over in a few short minutes. Discuss how fluoride and sealants protect the teeth, and help prevent future cavities.
Have questions about your kids’ dental care? Just get in touch!