Any parent can tell you that kids present all kinds of unique challenges – particularly when they are asked to do something they may not want to do. At Shoreline Children’s Dentistry in Guilford, CT, we have a great deal of skill and experience with kids and their unique needs, and we know how to guide them so that they feel comfortable and confident sitting in the dentist’s chair.

Kids have a lot of questions! And there’s nothing wrong with that. We believe that curiosity is a wonderful quality and deserves to be nurtured. We also know that children can be fearful when presented with a new or unusual situation, and sometimes that fear or anxiety can come out in ways that may look like problematic behavior.

We help kids by answering their questions and using specific techniques to relieve their worry and anxiety so that they are able to get the care they need for a healthy, beautiful smile.

We’d like to tell you about some of the techniques we use so that you know what to expect when you visit our office:

Tell Show Do

Children (and adults!) respond better when they know what to expect. Nobody wants a scary looking instrument suddenly heading straight for their open mouth!

We will explain to your child, using language he or she is able to understand, what we are planning to do, we’ll show them the instrument, and then we’ll perform the action. For example, if we are planning to polish your child’s teeth, we’ll explain why we’re polishing, show them the “electric toothbrush,” and then, when they are comfortable, proceed.

Positive Reinforcement

You probably use this technique at home quite a bit! The premise is simple – reward children for behavior you want to see them repeat. When your child is cooperative, we’ll be sure to praise their efforts to encourage a repeat performance next time.

Distraction

We try to make the dentist a fun place, but we know that it can get boring to sit still for what feels like a long time with someone poking around in your mouth. Distraction helps to ease fears and keep your child busy before and during the appointment.

We have fun toys and activities in our waiting room, and during the appointment, your child can watch TV on the monitors we have mounted in our ceilings, above the chairs.

Modeling Method

It’s easier to sit still when you can watch someone else go through the process first. If big brother or big sister is available, we can schedule appointments back to back. Not only does this simplify your schedule, we can also let the older, more experienced sibling go first so that your younger child can see good dentist behavior in action. If an older sibling isn’t available, we may ask you to be our model!

Nitrous Oxide

Some kids are simply more anxious than other kids, and that’s okay. If your child is still feeling anxious or needs a particularly long procedure, we can discuss nitrous oxide. Nitrous oxide is safe for children and has no lasting effects. It produces a mildly euphoric sensation; in fact, you might know it better by its other name – laughing gas!

Have Questions? Give Us a Call!

If you have any questions about the techniques we use or would like more information about a particular technique, don’t hesitate to call us. We’d love to hear from you, and we are happy to answer any questions you might have.