Preventing Dental Fear at a Young Age

 Do you have a fear of the dentist’s office?  Is this fear due to a scarring experience as a young child?  Would you like your child to experience this phobia?  This fear could be easily prevented if there are positive experiences at the dentist’s office from a young age.
It takes only a matter of seconds for a dental assistant or dental hygienist to assess a child’s potential behavior during a first appointment.  However, allowing parents into the room is a debatable subject among all involved.  It could be said that a parent being present for a young child’s dental appointment is exceedingly beneficial, providing a secure and nurturing environment. On the other hand, some offices require the parent to wait in the reception room in order to allow the child to focus on the dental team.  A child’s positive initial feelings towards the dentist’s office could ultimately lead to better oral health due to a focus on clean and healthy teeth versus a bad experience.
Many dental offices have strict policies for and against parents being allowed in the room.  But overall, parents being allowed in the room should be on a patient to patient basis, not a mass decision.  This is purely based on the fact that every child is diverse, and requires their own solution during a visit to the dentist. The ultimate goal is to make young children comfortable during their initial dental experiences; and we are willing to accommodate whatever that entails.
A fear towards the dentist is all too common, and could be strictly based on scarring experiences as a young child.  We strive to make every patient’s experience a positive one, especially a young child’s, due to the lasting impression it will have. Positive first impressions leave patients more likely to come in for regular exams, cleanings, and check up x-rays. Whatever you and your child’s dental needs may be, we are here to serve you.
For more information, please call Kimberly A. Rosen, D.D.S at 661-255-2545.