11 ways to minimize children's dental fears. Dentist visit brings big fears to most people, especially young ones or children. Children's fear from dentist visit may be due to many reasons: 1- Previous visit to dentist with parents, especially if the parents themselves were anxious, afraid or felt pain during treatment. 2- May be clinic's atmosphere itself is dull, not funny and suitable for children's treatment. 3- Fear from unknown and what will happen to them 4- Fear from being hurt,feeling pain and annoying sounds of dental instruments. 5- Previous unpleasant experience with unprofessional dentist who aggravated these fears. So it's dentist and parents' role to try to understand these fears and try to decline as much as they can. Dentist role: 1- Clinic decoration and environment should be funny, colorful, nice and comfortable to receive children. 2- It's a nice idea to have kids area full of toys for children to play before or after dental treatment. 3- Smell of the clinic should be beautiful and soothing one, it will help young patients to feel comfortable and relaxed. 4- Dentist's body language should be nice and friendly, starting from beautiful smile to friendly, lovely voice tone and easy touches and examination. 5- Gradual patient management techniques should be done; I mean dentist shouldn't be firm and nervous at the beginning even if the patient seems uncooperative. 6- Dentist should tell the young patient the treatment steps and show them the instrument which will be used and how it will not hurt them or causing pain. 7- If the case isn't an emergency, try to make the first visit friendly, full of joy with no pain. Parents role: 1- Children's first visit to the dentist should be as early as possible, when the first baby tooth comes in their mouth in order to recognize that atmosphere. 2- Before going to a pediatric dentist, parents should tell them about what may happen there without scaring them by any means. 3- Never use aggressive words in explaining what will happen during their visit, let this mission to the expert pediatric dentist. 4- Promise them with nice, simple reward if they will stay calm and brave during appointment but try not to be sweets. 5- Parents should tell their children how important it is to visit the dentist periodically in order to keep your teeth healthy. So to make children love dentist visit is a difficult mission but not impossible to do,all you need, as a dentist or a parent, is patience and little aware steps.
