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Keeping Your Child Calm In The Dentist Waiting Room Before A Procedure

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It can be tough to occupy a child in a waiting room for even a basic dental check up. If your child is seeing the dentist for a more complicated procedure, they might be more anxious about their visit than just a checkup. Keeping your child calm while waiting will fall to you as the parent. Here are four things you can do to help quell your child's anxiety in the waiting room before a dental procedure.

1. No Need to Arrive Early

Waiting rooms can be boring as best. If your child is anxious about having a filling or other procedure performed, sitting in a waiting room might just make them even more scared for their pending appointment. Arriving on time will hopefully make this wait time last just a few minutes before your child can be seen by the dentist. Call ahead and make sure the dentist is on time that day as well.

2. Anti-Anxiety Medications

There might be calming medications that your dentist can prescribe ahead of time if your child is overly anxious about a procedure. Much like medications that can be administered during a dental operation, sometimes sedatives or other anti-anxiety meds can be administered before a visit. This can make the wait time for child's appointment go more smoothly.

3. Creature Comforts

If your child is worried about an upcoming dental appointment that might involve more than a cleaning, let them arrive in comfort to the dentist's office. The waiting room might not be as scary if your child is in their favorite pajama pants or has their "superkid" cape on. Blankets and stuffed animals can help calm nerves in the waiting room as well as in the dental chair.

4. Find a Family Dentist With Kid-Friendly Reception

If your child can feel at ease in the waiting room, they might forget that they have a procedure lined up. A family dentist with friendly staff, toys, and other fun distractions can make this a more inviting environment. If your child tends to be nervous, get them in to see a dentist who knows how to manage their fears from the second they step in the door.

You shouldn't minimize your child's legitimate fears before a dental procedure. Respect their feelings and do what you can to make the wait up to their appointment more manageable. If you can make the waiting room a quick, distracting process, your child will have less time to stress over dental procedures. The hope is your child's dental visit will go smoothly and they won't be too worried right before their appointment.

For a family dentist, contact a company such as Schererville Family Dentistry


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