Dentist in SE1: For Your Child’s Sake, Don’t Be Afraid of the Dentist

Dentist in SE1: For Your Child’s Sake, Don’t Be Afraid of the Dentist

15 / 04 / 2015

Do you find yourself still loathing the dental chair every single time you visit? You should know that your dental anxiety has some profound effects on your little one. According to a 2012 study conducted by researchers at the Rey Juan Carlos University of Madrid, dental fear can be passed on from parent to child.

Dental Fear—It Begins with You

A fear-free dental visit doesn’t start with your child’s first walk into the office—it actually begins with you, the parent. Your children look to you for tips on how to react. As such, you need to show your kids that you yourself aren’t afraid of the dentist.

Be Brave, Little One

Almost everyone is afraid of the dentist to some extent. As parents, you are your children’s role models, and must therefore play a significant part in allaying your offspring’s dental anxiety. As a parent, you need to ensure that your children understand what a visit to a dentist in SE1 involves, and how valuable it can be for the benefit of their health.

For many young ones, their fear of the dental chair generally stems from not understanding what’s happening or why it’s happening to them. From the outset, you can help your kids by encouraging them to see that a dental visit is a positive and healthy activity, and having their teeth cared for by an expert should provide peace of mind—not stress and fear. If you are relaxed during your dental visits, you help ensure that your child would be relaxed as well.

The Less They Know…

Sometimes, explanations are best left in the hands of experts. Children are very perceptive, and if you are indeed fearful of the dentist even if you’re saying otherwise, they can tell. In that regard, it would be wiser to let the dentist explain to your child why he/she needs dental check-ups and what to expect from these.

Through positive reinforcement, the right attitude can be instilled in the child so that going to a dental checkup will cease to be a problem. The next time your toddler tags along during your visit to an SE1 dentist, remember not to show fear to avoid passing it to him/her.

(Source: Parents Play Key Role in Easing Children’s Dental Fears, Harrisburg-Area Docs Say, PennLive.com, Feb. 02, 2015)