How can I help my childs experience at the dentist to be positive?
Be thoughtful about your word choices when telling your child about the dentist. We are selective in our word choices and try to avoid words that may scare a child. For example, at the first visit, we count teeth as a way to examine the teeth. We tickle teeth as part of cleaning them. We say we “wiggle a tooth out” rather than “extract a tooth.” Our goal is to create an experience that is positive and child-friendly. We appreciate your cooperation in helping us to do this and welcome any questions you may have. It may also be helpful to recognize your own anxiety about going to the dentist. Your anxiety may make your child even more nervous. Dental health is important to overall health. We want your childs experience to be as pleasant as possible, because we want you and your child to feel good about coming back to the dentist on a regular basis.
