7 ways to help your child avoid dental anxiety

Dental anxiety is a common problem amongst children, particularly when it comes to their first visit.

But the good news is that there are ways to prepare your child ahead of their first visit to the dentist (and as they grow up) in order to reduce their likelihood of developing this fear.

In a nutshell, dental anxiety is fear, worry and stress associated with visiting the dentist. This may be due to a painful past experience, a fear of the unknown or a general dislike of medical settings.

Research indicates that around 10% of children and 16% of adults in Australia experience dental anxiety.¹

While it might conjure images of prodding, buzzing dental instruments and bright lights, a first visit to a paediatric dentist can be an enjoyable experience.

A child's first appointment with a dentist is usually designed to familiarise them with who a dentist is, what they do, the dental chair and how to keep teeth and gums healthy.

More often than not, a child's willingness to have their teeth checked will come down to how well prepared they are for the visit. Of course, dental practitioners do their best to make the experience fun and enjoyable, but ultimately, preparing a child for their first visit to the dentist will come down to their parents or guardians.

These 7 tips may help to stop them from forming any negative associations with visiting the dentist.

Children often pick up on their parents' energy. So, if you're happy and relaxed before their first dental appointment, there's a good chance they will be too.

Try to bear in mind that many Australian adults have a fear of the dentist, too, which could include you. Kids can adopt their parents' anxieties, so try not to expose them to your own fears if you're nervous about visiting the dentist.²

As well as showing your child that you're calm and positive about visiting the dentist, it can help to get other members of your family to lead by example.

Older siblings are great for this. They can confirm that a visit to the dentist is fun and easy, and that there might even be a prize at the end!

Attending the appointment as a family can also be a great way to show your child that there is nothing to worry about, especially if their sibling goes first to show them how it's done!

If your child is anxious about visiting the dentist, and talking about it only adds to that fear, it may help to distract them with something like a toy or a book in the waiting room, before their appointment.

While many dental practitioners will provide some kind of gift for your child at the end of the appointment (like a sticker or a new toothbrush), it may also be helpful to schedule something fun after the dentist visit so that the appointment is not the main event of the day.

It can help to talk with your child about the appointment before it happens. Let them know that there will be a person looking inside their mouth to make sure it's healthy and that they will get to sit in a fun chair! Watching TV shows or reading books which involve a positive dentist visit can be helpful.

Make sure you book in a time when your child is typically relaxed and happy. As any parent knows, a relaxed and rested child is usually a more cooperative one!

It may also help reduce your child's risk of developing dental anxiety if their visits start early in life. Going to the dentist before the age of 2 and maintaining regular check-ups every 6 to 12 months can significantly reduce a child's dental fear.³

Whether you choose to see a general dentist, hygienist, oral health therapist or a specialist paediatric dentist, it always pays to do a little research ahead of time. Search online or get recommendations from your friends and family, and look for a professional that seems like a good fit.

Once you've found a dental practitioner who's a good fit for your child, sticking with them can help your child feel comfortable and minimise their fear as they get older. So, finding the right one early on is ideal.