How to Help a Child Who’s Afraid to Go to the Dentist

It’s very important to take your child to the dentist regularly.¹ But going to the dentist can be scary for children. These ideas may help your child feel less afraid:

• Tell the dentist ahead of time that your child may be anxious.³ Ask him or her to explain things to your child.²

• Go into the treatment room with your child.²

• Use distraction.² Tell your child to look at something in the office or to think about something fun.³

• Offer your child earphones to listen to music with and play his or her favorite songs.³

• Praise your child for behaving well at the dentist’s office.²

¹ “Medical Encyclopedia: Child Dental Health.” U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, September 7, 2008. www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/childdentalhealth.html. Accessed 2010.

² “Calming the Anxious Child.” American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. www.aapd.org/publications/brochures/calming.asp. Accessed 2010.

³ “Dental Anxiety.” American Dental Association. http://ada.org/2585.aspx?currentTab=2. Accessed 2010.