LET‘S RAISE CHILDREN WITH HEALTHY TEETH !
The biggest challenge to the dentist treating a child is to gain the trust of that little patient. When your child will trust the doctor and feel safe, you, parents will also be at ease. However, only the goodwill of our staff is not enough. For child’s dental treatment to be successful, an interpersonal collaboration of the entire team – child, its parents, dentist, and its assistant, is critically important.
AT THE CLINIC WE PERFORM:
- Formation of correct nutrition habits,
- Constant oral care since the first teeth up to the formation of permanent occlusion,
- Formation of hygiene habits – learning to brush teeth correctly with a toothbrush,
- Fluoride procedures to avoid caries and suspend its course.
- Caries prophylaxis, if the multiple caries is present (baby bottle tooth decay (infant caries), especially to children during puberty,
- Sealing fissures with hermetic sealant,
- Treatment of deciduous and permanent teeth,
- Individual mouth protections for sporting children and teenagers.
WHY CHILDREN ARE AFRAID OF DENTAL TREATMENT ?
FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN
Many children don‘t know how dental treatment procedures are performed, and that may be the cause of fear. In such cases „I say – I show – I do“ methodology is recommended.
- “I say” – explanation of the future procedure to a child in a language, understandable at his age. Even when the procedure is already being performed, it can be told to a child about what’s being done. The most important part – the doctor must be honest. If the procedure will be painful or unpleasant, it is necessary to warn the patient about it.
- “I show” – it is demonstrated how and with what instruments this procedure will be performed. A child should see, touch, smell the materials or instruments, to hear how they work.
- “I do” – a procedure is performed when it’s surely known that the patient understood it all correctly. If the child behaved good, then it’s necessary to complement him.
A FEAR PASSED ON BY FAMILY MEMBERS OR FRIENDS
It’s a fear which was passed on by other family members or friends, who had a negative experience of dental treatment. Parents afraid of dental treatment often unconsciously pass their fears on their children. Psychological preparation should begin before the first visit to the dentist’s office. Parents or other family members usually are the first to give an understanding of dental treatment to a child. It’s purposeful for children to observe dental checkups or simple treatment procedures performed on their older brothers, sisters or parents’ teeth. However, it’s necessary to select proper occasions because children may get frightened by various sounds.
Don’t tell children:
- „if you’ll eat lots of candy, then you’ll see how your tooth will hurt.”
- „if you don’t brush your teeth, I’ll take you to the dentist, and then you’ll see what will happen to you.”
- Before going to the dentist or upon arrival to its office – „don’t be afraid, they won’t do anything to you, they’ll just check.”
You both, parents and children, you must understand that the dentist won’t fix the teeth only by looking at them. It’s necessary to lubricate, anesthetize and cleanse the hole in the tooth. Therefore, it’s essential to indispose the child that it might be required to be patient. However, the doctor won’t warn about it for sure. Both parents and doctors must be honest with the little patient.
FEAR OF PAIN
Painless dental treatment procedures are the essential guarantee of a child’s trust in the dentist. Since most of the procedures are painful, treated deciduous and permanent teeth could be anesthetized. Any treatment can be performed qualitatively only when the patient is feeling comfortable. It’s critically important to perform anesthetization procedures carefully and correctly. To most children, it could be the first dental treatment experience and must be successful. During this procedure, the dentist must prepare the child for the coming injection. It would be best if you didn’t tell in detail about what you intend to do. It’s better to tell the patient vividly that the tooth will be put to sleep and then healed.
FEAR OF THE DENTIST
Gaining the trust of a little patient is a challenge to the dentist.
Dentist’s patience, competence, genuine conversation with parents about the behavioral possibilities of a child are critically important.
