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How to Help Your Kid Get Over Their Fear of the Dentist

As many parents know, children can allow you to experience the world again, as though for the first time. For the child, it is their first time! You will share their first experience in a pool, watching a movie, reading a book, and many other joys. However, there are some first experiences that parents tend not to look forward to - visiting the Doctor, Dentist, or Hairstylist. These can be difficult times for both the parent and the child. There may be a lot of fear, anxiety, and aversion. Despite these difficulties, there are ways to make those first Dentist appointments as smooth as possible. Let’s take a look at some of those tips.

Choose the Right Dentist

Not every dentist is a pediatric dentist. Some dentists do not work with young children. You should do a little research to see if the dentist of interest works in pediatric dentistry and orthodontics. If the dentist does not, then you should reconsider visiting that dentist. Consider Dr. Julie Liberman of Great Neck Dental Care if you require a reliable pediatric dentist. She can also provide excellent dental care for the entire family.

Have a Conversation About the Dentist

Going to the dentist - especially for the first few times - should not come as a surprise. You do not want to blindside your child with a surprise dentist visit. You do not need to put too much pressure on the visit and exaggerate it, but you should have a conversation with your child and help anticipate what to expect. All of the equipment, the bright lights, the scrubs, and unfamiliar faces will be a lot of new stimuli for your child to process. Help them get that processing started by talking about what they can expect.

Reward Your Child

Many of us remember receiving a piece of candy and maybe a toy after our childhood visits to the dentist. Though the visit may not have been fun, receiving a reward after made it a much more pleasant experience. But the rewards do not need to stop there. You can reward your child even more. If your child behaved exceptionally well, maybe you can up the ante a bit and promise their favorite food for dinner, take them out to a movie, take them to the toy store, or perhaps all three! What you want your child to know is that going to the dentist can be scary, but they can still have a good time and get some fun out of it.

If you have any more questions about how to find someone suitable for pediatric dentistry and orthodontics or what your child’s first visit to the dentist might look like, please do not hesitate to reach out to Dr. Liberman and her team at Great Neck Dental Care. If you are in the Great Neck or Nassau County area and need help with pediatric dentistry and orthodontics, then Great Neck Dental Care is the place for you and your family!