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Dental Anxiety: Navigating Your Child’s Fear of the Dentist

October 21, 2023 By HarbourPLaceDental

Tips for a Positive Dental Experience

15 expert tips for helping your child conquer dental fear and ensure a positive, lifelong relationship with dental care.
Dental Anxiety: Tips for a Positive Dental Experience

Many parents have faced the daunting task of dealing with their child’s fear of the dentist. Dental anxiety is common among kids, but addressing it early is crucial for their long-term oral health. By following some simple strategies, you can ensure that your child’s dental visits are positive experiences that will help them maintain healthy teeth and gums throughout their lives.

1. Start Early:
One of the most effective ways to prevent dental fear is to start early. As soon as your child’s first tooth emerges, or by their first birthday, schedule their first dental appointment. Early exposure can help normalize the experience and prevent fear from developing.

2. Choose a Pediatric Dentist:
Opt for a pediatric dentist who specializes in working with children. These professionals are trained to address kids’ unique needs and know how to create a child-friendly environment that helps put your child at ease.

3. Pre-Visit Preparation:
Before the dental appointment, talk to your child about what to expect. Use positive language and avoid scary or threatening terms. You can also read age-appropriate books or watch videos about visiting the dentist to help them understand the process.

4. Role Play:
Pretend to play dentist at home with your child. Let them take on the role of the dentist and the patient. This can help them understand what to expect during their real dental appointment.

5. Visit the Office in Advance:
Arrange a pre-visit to the dental office so your child can explore the surroundings, meet the staff, and see the equipment without the pressure of a scheduled appointment. Familiarity can ease their anxiety.

6. Choose the Right Time:
Schedule dental appointments at times when your child is well-rested and less likely to be irritable or anxious. A tired child may find the experience more challenging.

7. Offer Rewards:
Create a reward system where your child receives a small treat or a special outing after a successful dental visit. This positive reinforcement can help make the experience more enjoyable.

8. Stay Calm:
Children often pick up on their parents’ emotions. Stay calm and positive when discussing or attending dental appointments. Your attitude can greatly influence how your child perceives the situation.

9. Distraction Techniques:
Bring your child’s favorite toy or book to the dental visit. These familiar items can help distract your child and make the experience more enjoyable.

10. Praise and Encouragement:
Praise your child for their bravery during and after the visit. Encourage them to share their feelings and experiences. Positive reinforcement can go a long way in helping them overcome their fear.

11. Gradual Exposure:
If your child is extremely fearful, consider starting with shorter, non-invasive appointments and gradually progressing to more complex procedures. This incremental approach can help build their confidence over time.

12. Dental Playdate:
Organize a playdate with a friend who has a positive dental experience. When your child sees that their peer can visit the dentist without fear, it can help normalize the idea of dental visits for them.

13. Sedation Options:
Discuss sedation options or nitrous oxide with the dentist in cases of extreme dental anxiety. These can help ease your child’s stress during treatment while ensuring their oral health.

14. Be a Good Example:
Show your child that you visit the dentist regularly and have positive experiences. Lead by example to reinforce the importance of dental care.

15. Be Patient:
Remember that overcoming dental fear may take time. Be patient and continue to work with your child to help them overcome their anxiety gradually.

Every child is unique, and what works for one may not work for another. The key is to create a supportive and understanding environment while working with dental professionals to ensure a positive and stress-free dental experience for your child. By implementing these strategies, you can help your child develop a healthy attitude toward dental care and ensure a lifetime of happy, healthy smiles.

Filed Under: Blog, Pediatric Dentistry Tagged With: Denatal Anxiety in Children, Dental Anxiety, dentist Mukilteo WA, Mukilteo Dentist, Mukilteo family dentistry

What Your Child Should Expect from a First Dental Exam

January 21, 2016 By HarbourPLaceDental

What Your Child Should Expect from a First Dental Exam with a Mukilteo Family Dentist or Mukilteo WA Kids Dentist

http://www.HarbourPlaceDental.com

Kids Dentist using a dental filling gunDoes your child have an upcoming first-ever trip to the dentist’s office? If so, then it is understandable that your little one may be dealing with some pre-examination jitters. One of the best ways you can help ease those worries is to explain what goes on in the dentist’s chair. Here is a guide to what your child should expect from a first dental exam with a Mukilteo WA Kids Dentist or your family dentist:

A child-friendly office: It may be helpful to assure your child that the office of your pediatric dentist will be especially suited for children. That means there will be games and activities in the waiting room, fun décor, and post-exam treats for when your child does well (or at least makes it through the appointment).
A personable and warm environment is an important aspect of pediatric dental care.  Having a patient and caring dental team will contribute to a successful visit.  It is important that they take much care in developing relationships with each of their clients, in order to make them feel comfortable and to educate them on good oral hygiene.

Education: It is your pediatric dentist’s job to educate your children on the best ways to care for their teeth at home, and your child’s first visit will include an informative session with the dentist on oral hygiene. This will include instructions for proper tooth brushing, good oral habits to maintain, bad oral habits to stay away from, and the importance of routine dental examinations when it comes to preventative dentistry.
The examination. Barring any unforeseen surprises (a serious cavity that requires immediate removal, for example), your child’s first examination should be short and sweet. This is especially true if you make it a point to get your child to the dentist as soon as possible after those first teeth grow in. The pediatric dentist will examine all of the teeth closely to determine their state of health, assess any possible need (or future need) for braces or mouthpieces, and do a short cleaning, followed by a flossing.

Oral hygiene is an important part of overall health and well-being, and good oral hygiene habits begin in childhood. It is important that you care for your children’s oral health now, so that they can develop their own healthy dental habits as adults. An integral part of your children’s oral upkeep is finding a family or pediatric dentist you can trust. The professionals at Harbour Place Dental in Mukilteo WA  go above and beyond when it comes to helping your children maintain optimal oral health.  Give us a call  at (425) 493-8111 or visit our website and contact us in private or e-mail us at  harbourpldental@gmail.com

Filed Under: Blog, Pediatric Dentistry Tagged With: family, Family Dentistry in Mukilteo WA, Family Dentistry Mukilteo WA, Kids dentist mukilteo wa, kids dentistry, kids dentistry mukilteo, Mukilteo family dentistry, mukilteo pediatrics, Mukilteo WA Family Dentistry, pediatric dentist Mukilteo WA, pediatric dentist mukilteo.

Mukilteo Family Dentistry: Signs It’s Time to Take Your Child to the Dentist

January 20, 2016 By HarbourPLaceDental

Mukilteo Family Dentistry : Signs It’s Time to Take Your Child to the Dentist
http://www.HarbourPlaceDental.com

Child in Dentist officeIt is common knowledge that oral hygiene begins in childhood, and it is important that you teach your children proper oral hygiene habits that they can take into adulthood. However, not everyone knows when it is necessary to take their children to the dentist. What age is the “right” age for a first checkup? And, what are the special circumstances that warrant a trip to the dentist’s office? At Mukilteo Family Dentistry of Dr. Onishi we think following are some signs and situations that indicate  it’s time to take your child to the dentist:

Baby’s first dental exam: Most experts agree that infants should have their first dental examinations within the first year of life. If your infant sleeps with a bottle (full of anything besides water), then you may have to visit a pediatric dentist even sooner than that. A good rule of thumb is to pay a visit to the dentist once your baby starts cutting in teeth.

Accident or injury: If your child has a slip and fall, experiences a blow to the mouth, or in any other way damages a tooth, you should get to a pediatric dentist, and pronto. While slightly chipped teeth aren’t always a serious matter, a pediatric dentist should still be called in to evaluate the level of damage and determine if any filing or filling is necessary to prevent further damage. Even if you don’t notice any immediate damage, you should take your child in for an oral examination in the case of pain that won’t go away, as it might be that your child has a tooth fracture that you cannot see. Even hairline fractures can extend into the gums, reach the nerve, and cause major (very painful!) tooth and gum infections.

Cavities: Most children get cavities, and while it may be true that some cavities simply fall out along with the baby teeth, some cavities lead to deep decay that can result in abscesses, infections, and the spread of further decay to other teeth. If you notice those tell-tale black spots in your child’s teeth, it’s time to pay a visit to the pediatric dentist.

Oral hygiene is an important part of overall health and well-being, and good oral hygiene habits begin in childhood. It is important that you care for your children’s oral health now, so that they can develop their own healthy dental habits as adults. An integral part of your children’s oral upkeep is finding a pediatric dentist you can trust. The professionals at Harbour Place Dental  Mukilteo Family Dentistry of  Dr. Onishi, Dr. Sarsfield go above and beyond when it comes to helping your children maintain optimal oral health and help preserve their healthy smile.  They are well regarded and trusted by many families in Mukilteo, Everett, Mill Creek WA area.

Give them  a call  at (425) 493-8111 or visit their website and contact them in private or e-mail at  harbourpldental@gmail.com and have your condition assessed immediately. They will recommend the best course of action for you. Follow their advice to keep your teeth in good shape and decay away.

 

Filed Under: Blog, Family Dentistry, Pediatric Dentistry Tagged With: Family Dentistry in Mukilteo WA, Family Dentistry Mukilteo WA, Mukilteo family dentistry, Mukilteo WA Family Dentistry

Pediatric Dentist Mukilteo Tip: Bad Oral Hygiene Habits Children Should Avoid

August 24, 2015 By HarbourPLaceDental

Pediatric Dentist Mukilteo Tip: Bad Oral Hygiene Habits Children Should Avoid by Dr. Onishi

Harbour Place Dental Mukilteo WA

http://www.HarbourPlaceDental.com

mother and daughter brush my teeth

mother and daughter brush my teeth

No youngster wants to go to the dental practitioner. Unfortunately, some kids take part in oral health habits that can land them in the dental professional’s chair more frequently than necessary. Right here are some bad oral health routines youngsters should prevent:

Going to bed with a bottle. It may be all too tempting to offer child a bottle at bedtime, especially if you have a grouchy infant that likes to combat sleep. Nevertheless, this bad habit can result in some uncomfortable dental issues down the line. As infants fall asleep with bottles in their mouths, those small puddles of liquid in the fractures and crevices of their teeth break down the safety enamel, ultimately resulting in tooth and gum decay. Prevent providing your child a bottle filled with milk, formula, juice, or any sugary beverage at bedtime. If you must put infant to bed with a bottle, make certain it is filled with only water.


Making use of teeth as a device.
Children are impatient animals. They want exactly what they desire when they desire it, and they frequently discover very imaginative methods of taking brief cuts. It’s not unusual for kids to utilize their teeth as devices for opening caps, ripping paper or plastic, “cutting” nails and other materials, and an entire list of other not-so tooth-friendly activities.

Thumb sucking. Many youngsters use this as a self-comforting strategy. Unfortunately, this bad practice can trigger youngsters’s teeth to grow in an overbite pattern. Not just can this cost you money through corrective dentistry down the line, but the more severe cases can even make it hard for your children to chew their food and pronounce their words effectively.

Swallowing toothpaste. Some of today’s toothpastes formulated specifically for children taste practically as great as sweet. As a matter of fact, some kids even delight in the taste of their toothpaste so much that they choose to swallow it. This is a harmful practice, as excessive fluoride (an active ingredient found in toothpaste) can be hazardous and cause sickness and other illness. Teach your children that toothpaste is not food– that it is made to be taken pleasure in and then spit out.

Oral hygiene is a vital part of general health , and better oral health habits start in youth. It is crucial that you take care of your youngster’s oral health now, so that they can develop their own healthy dental practices as adults. An essential part of your kid’s oral upkeep is discovering a family and pediatric dentist that you can rely on. Pediatric dentist Mukilteo-Dr. Onishi is the one many families in Mukilteo WA area rely on. The specialists at Harbour Place Dental in Mukilteo WA go above and beyond when it concerns helping your children preserve optimal oral health. Give us a call  at (425) 493-8111 or visit our website and contact us in private or e-mail us at  harbourpldental@gmail.com

Filed Under: Blog, Family Dentistry Mukilteo WA, Pediatric Dentistry, Pediatric Dentistry Mukilteo Tagged With: dentist Mukilteo WA, Everett WA dentist, Kids dentist mukilteo wa, kids dentistry mukilteo wa, Mukilteo Dentist, Mukilteo family dentistry, pediatric dentist Mukilteo WA, pediatric dentist mukilteo.

Dr Onishi, Dentist Mukilteo WA Tip: How to Ease Your Child’s Anxiety about the Dentist

July 10, 2015 By HarbourPLaceDental

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The dentist’s office can be a very scary place for children. Not only are they secured to an armchair and instructed not to move by a group of strangers in white jackets, but they also witness an array of very scary-looking dental tools. Does your child fear an upcoming trip to the pediatric dentist’s office? Here are some tips for how to ease your child’s anxiety about the dentist:

Share your own story. Chances are, as a child (and maybe even now, as an adult) you were just as fearful about the dentist. Share your own story about your dental exam experiences, and assure your child that, even though you also experience the pre-exam jitters, you made it through just fine. Sometimes knowing that someone relates is all a child needs to feel more at ease.

Read children’s books about going to the dentist. Because dentist anxiety is so common amongst children, there is an array of children’s books written specifically for little ones who might need some coaxing come time to visit the dentist. Search the web or visit your local library to find an abundance of children’s books about going to the dentist, and make it a point to start reading those books early – way before it is actually appointment time.

Educate your child on what to expect. Oftentimes, just knowing what they are in for can go a long way in easing children’s fears about the dentist. Don’t sugar-coat things (because children have enough sense to know that dental examinations aren’t exactly fun), but do put things into perspective in a way children can relate: “It is understandable that you are uncomfortable with the idea of going to the dentist, but nothing bad is going to happen to you and it will be over before you know it.”

Remind them of the treat at the end. Every pediatric dentist offers some type of reward to children at the end of their dental examinations, whether it is a sugar-free lollipop or a sticker. For young children especially, knowledge of the after-exam treat is enough to get them at least a little excited about sitting through a dental exam.

Oral hygiene is an important part of overall health and well-being, and good oral hygiene habits begin in childhood.  It is important that you care for your children’s oral health now, so that they can develop their own healthy dental habits as adults.  An integral part of your children’s oral upkeep is finding a pediatric dentist in Mukilteo WA area you can trust.  The professionals at Harbour Place Dental in Mukilteo WA go above and beyond when it comes to helping your children maintain optimal oral health.  Give us a call us at (425) 493-8111, visit and contact us through our website www.HarbourPlaceDental.com  or contact us by email: harbourpldental@gmail.com

 

Filed Under: Blog, Pediatric Dentistry

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