How can I get my child to visit the dentist in Mackay without hassles and tantrums?

We know that a full blown tantrum by your two-year-old is not high on your list of things you really want to experience. So how do you get your child to the dentist without having to drag them there against their will?

Our child-friendly dental team at Northern Beaches Dental has a few tricks up their sleeves to hopefully make your future dental appointments with your child scream and tears-free.

Start taking your child to the dentist from a young age

A child who feels at unease will typically cry.

So the best way to help them feel at ease is by exposing them to the dentist when they are still very young. By doing this it becomes a normal, routine life experience for them.  In time, they will start feeling comfortable in an environment that they have become familiar with. It’s advisable to book your child’s first dental appointment as soon as their first teeth start showing.

On their first consultation with us, we don’t expect your child to recline in our dentist’s chair. They can sit in your lap where they feel most comfortable and out of danger.

We will take a quick look in their mouth, but the primary purpose of this visit is to slowly introduce this unfamiliar, new setting to your child or children. We also want to discuss your child’s dental health with you. Maintaining optimal oral health and hygiene from early on prevents complications in adulthood. Preventative dentistry typically leads to fewer complications, which means more pleasant visits to the dentist in Mackay, and in turn, not regarding the dental practitioner with dread.

Find a family-focused dental practice in your area

Our dentists are gentle, friendly and patient and fully understanding of the causes of fears in children.

A child should also be taught about the importance of keeping their teeth clean and have any required treatments explained to them in terms they understand. In this way, we remove the distrust of dentists in Mackay which are typically the result of a child fearing the unknown.

If your child has questions you do not know how to answer we’ll be pleased to help.

Developing a good rapport with your child is one thing, but another way we keep your child calm while waiting for their appointment with the dentist is with storybooks. As a dental practice that prioritises our younger patients, we offer children’s books to help distract them from any nervousness they may feel.

What you can do to help your child

Children learn by example. They tend to copy the behaviours of their role models, typically their parents.

Possibly unintentionally, you might be passing on your negative feelings toward the dentist in Mackay to your impressionable children.

Be optimistic about your child’s next dental appointment, even if you yourself are anxious about it.

If you are a nervous patient, it’s advisable that you do not book your own check-ups on the same day as your child because you might not be able to hide your fears from them successfully.

Regular dental check-ups allow us to treat issues in their infancy stages

Another reason why children potentially fear the dentist is because they expect to feel pain. Detecting and treating your child’s dental issues before they get worse can minimise their experiences with pain and discomfort.

No one likes to have a stranger poking and prodding inside their mouths, no less a child. Start booking your child dental appointments with us when they are still very young. They will then hopefully see us as friends, who are looking after their best interests.

All treatment carries risks. Individual consultation is required with one of our practitioners to ensure that the treatment is right for you.