How to help a child who is afraid of the dentist

What percentage of children are scared of the dentist?

It’s hard to say exactly how many children are scared of the dentist. But studies estimate that around a third of children worldwide experience dental anxiety. It also appears to be more common in girls than boys.

Why are kids scared of the dentist?

There are lots of possible reasons for child dental anxiety. Your child might develop a fear of the dentist if they:

• had a negative or painful experience with a dentist in the past
• pick up on fear or anxiety from parents, carers or siblings
• are naturally more prone to feeling worried or anxious
• have a fear of needles or gagging
• feel unsettled by the unfamiliar sights, smells, sounds or equipment at the dentist
• have heard scary stories about dental visits from friends or on TV
• are threatened with the dentist as a consequence for not taking care of their teeth

How should I prepare my child for a dental appointment?

Try these tactics to help your child with dental anxiety in the lead up to their trip to the dentist.

Start from a young age

Introducing your child to the dentist at an early age can reduce their chance of developing a fear of the dentist later in life. Most experts recommend taking your child for a dental check-up when their first baby tooth erupts, or by their first birthday. But you could also bring them along to your own appointments to help them get familiar with a new environment.

Book your appointment for a good time

Your child’s mood probably changes throughout the day. So make their appointment for a time of day when you know they’ll be well-rested, calm and fed – such as after naptime.

Explain what’s going to happen

Let your child know exactly what to expect at the dentist and answer any questions they may have. Try to avoid using scary words like pain, hurt, injection or transferring any of your own fears onto your little one. Be honest with them whilst keeping things comforting and positive.

Read books and watch videos together

Spend some time in the weeks leading up to their appointment reading children’s books and watching videos about going to the dentist. It can help your child understand what will happen and make the dentist seem less scary.

Play pretend dentist at home

Take it in turns to play make believe dentist at home. Let your child be both the dentist and the patient. Practice using toy dentist kits, sitting in a big chair, making funny noises, opening and closing their mouth, cleaning and counting teeth.

Tell your dentist what your child loves

Give your dentist some insider tips on what your child does and doesn’t like. Does your little one go crazy for cars? Or are they delighted by dinosaurs? Let your dentist know in advance so they can build a rapport with your child.

How can I calm my child during a dental procedure?

On the day of the appointment, the following might help when managing a child with dental anxiety.

Set a good example

If you’re worried about going to the dentist, chances are your child will pick up on this. Try your best to appear calm and confident in front of your little one, so they can follow suit.

Choose a stop signal

If your child is old enough to understand, make it very clear before the procedure that they can stop at any point if they want. Agree on a simple signal, like raising their hand, to highlight that they need a break. This can help your child to feel more in control.

Distract your child

During their procedure, help your child to focus on something other than what’s happening in their mouth. Playing music through headphones, watching cartoons or videos, or talking to them could help to take their mind off things.

Teach your child to relax

It might help to teach your child some relaxation techniques to help them stay calm during their appointment. Ask them to use their imagination and visualise something that makes them happy. Or get them to fill up their belly with air like a balloon, and relax all their muscles as they let the air escape.

Demonstrate before doing

Your dentist will use a technique known as ‘Tell Show Do’ so that your child can see and understand what’s going to happen beforehand. They’ll explain what they’re about to do, demonstrate this on a random object or your child’s hand, before carrying out the procedure. This gives your child some time to get used to the instruments, sounds and sensations.

Give plenty of praise

During their procedure, give your child lots of praise and encouragement. Be specific about what they’re doing well, like sitting still or opening their mouth wide.

How can I help my child after a dental appointment?

Once your child’s check-up is complete, keep their confidence up with these tips.

Use positive reinforcement

Reward your child after their appointment so they form a positive association with going to the dentist. That could be telling them how well they did or treating them to something like stickers, lunch or a trip to the shops.

Schedule regular check-ups

Continue taking your little one for regular dental check-ups and don’t wait until there’s a problem to book an appointment. Regular trips to the dentist can lead to less dental anxiety in children. Experts recommend taking your child to the dentist every six months, and not leaving it more than a year between appointments.

See the same dentist

Ask your dental team if it’s possible for your child to see the same dentist every time, so they can build a relationship and feel comfortable at their appointments.