When your child fears monsters in their closet or under their bed, you can quickly assuage them by turning on a light and showing them there’s nothing to be afraid of. But how can you alleviate their fear of getting a tooth extracted? If you don’t prepare your child beforehand, the idea of a tooth extraction can feel overwhelmingly frightening. Here are a few valuable tips for making the experience less scary for your child.
Eliminate Fear of the Unknown
People in general tend to fear what they don’t know or understand, but children can have even wilder imaginations when it comes to a new experience like a tooth extraction. Surgery of any kind can intimidate an adult, much less a child, who may not fully understand what’s going on. As much as possible, explain the problem in age-appropriate terms your kid can comprehend and make it clear that this procedure is necessary and safe. With more knowledge about it, tooth extraction may seem less terrifying for your child.
Create a Comfortable Environment
If the dentist’s office is an unfamiliar or foreign place to your child, they will likely struggle to feel comfortable there and have a harder time with their extraction. On the other hand, if your child visits their dentist regularly and establishes a trusting relationship with the dentist over time, they may feel much more at ease in this environment.
In addition, as a trained expert in working with kids, your pediatric dentist should design their practice to be fun, happy, and comforting to children. Long before your child requires an extraction, you should find a pediatric dentist who creates this type of atmosphere in their office, reducing uneasiness.
For many kids, touching or snuggling a favorite plush toy or a blanket can soothe them when they are stressed. If your child requires a tooth extraction, you may bring their comfort object for them to hold during the procedure, helping them feel more secure.
Take Advantage of Sedation Dentistry
Your pediatric dentist may have resources that can further put your child’s mind at ease. For instance, nitrous oxide is a gentle, yet effective sedative that not only calms fears but also suppresses a gag reflex and provides even more pain reduction. For more severe cases of anxiety or more complicated extractions, general anesthesia may offer the best method for handling a child’s procedure.
If it takes a village to raise a child, work with your pediatric dentist leading up to the tooth extraction. They can offer other tips and suggestions to calm your child’s fears. Together, you can prepare your child for the procedure and make the experience as positive as possible.
About the Author
Dr. J. Patrick Bowman is a board-certified pediatric dentist and has been practicing at Wash Park Pediatric Dentistry for several years. He has advanced training in growth and development, anesthesia, behavior management, and other areas of dentistry that uniquely qualifies him to treat younger patients and those with special needs. Every day, he strives to help each child have a good appointment at the dentist, knowing that these early experiences lead to lifelong healthy habits. If you would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Patrick, contact Wash Park Pediatric Dentistry in Denver online or call 720-647-6310.