Can a child really get excited about going to the dentist? Oh yes! Age-appropriate and consistent dental care is essential to maintaining excellent oral health throughout childhood; if parents can help their child to see dentistry in a positive light, they will be doing them a service that will benefit them for the rest of their lives. Here are some tips that will really help to get your child excited about going to the dentist.

Choose a Great Pediatric Dentist

The first step is to opt for a pediatric dentist over a general family dentist. There really are some key differences between a pediatric dentist and a family dentist; but the one that makes a huge difference in helping your child get excited to go is the atmosphere in the office.  A pediatric dentist’s office is completely kid-centric: after all, treating children is all they do!

From the decorations on the walls to the child-sized furniture to the games to the kid-savvy staff, it’s a fun place to visit. Before her scheduled visit, take your child to see the pediatric dentist’s office so she won’t have a fear of the unknown: once she sees other kids there her age, she’ll be more excited to go when it’s time. For Beehive State parents, Dr. Nathan Stevenson of Stevenson Pediatric is a Utah pediatric dentist who provides excellent treatment in a fun and safe environment. Choosing pediatric dentistry over family dentistry is a great first step to help your child develop a positive attitude toward going to the dentist.

Do Some Play-Acting

Many children are sensitive about having anyone “poke around” in their mouths, and this can make them reticent about going to the dentist no matter how fun the environment may be. Reading children’s books about what happens at dental visits and engaging in a little play-acting beforehand will go a long way toward easing your child’s fears. Open wide and let her “play dentist” by counting your teeth! Then you do the same to her. Let her ask questions and answer them honestly. It is extremely important to maintain a positive attitude toward the dentist even if you happen to have some fears of your own. When it comes to your child, going to the pediatric dentist and having the opportunity of getting her teeth super-clean in a fun atmosphere should always be a reason to get excited!

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 16th, 2010 at 3:04 pm and is filed under Why Pediatric Dentist. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.