How to prepare your child for tooth extraction
Tips to get your child ready for tooth extraction
Tooth extraction can be scary for most adults and a dreaded nightmare for kids. Parents face the challenging task if preparing their kids for what awaits them in tooth extraction in Pharr TX. If your child is not prepared well, it can prove to be a stressful and traumatizing experience. Fortunately, there are some things that parents can do prepare their little warriors for the dental battle. Here are some tips to help you prepare your child for the tooth extraction procedure.
Work with an experienced kid’s dentist in Pharr TX
Finding an experienced and reliable dentist will ensure that your child has a good experience and the tooth extraction goes smoothly. A renowned pediatric dental clinic in Pharr TX will be committed to offering quality care and will have vast experience in working with children.
Kids’ tooth extraction near me is greatly different from an adult tooth extraction in both – mental and physical terms. As the kids are still growing, the procedure can be slightly more complex. Their pain endurance is also low. Again, children are most likely to be scared and stressed about the procedure. Experienced pediatric dentists near me have a vast knowledge of how to handle the children before, during and after the procedure to ensure the procedure isn’t traumatic for them.
Be Transparent with Your Child About the Procedure
Kids are most likely to react in a bitter way when they find themselves in an unfamiliar situation. To make it easy for the child, parents should do thorough research and explain to the child what is going to happen in advance.
You can try role-playing a visit to the dentist with your child. Talking about the procedure and listening to the concerns of your kid will also help you eliminate their fears. You should also let the child interact with a kids’ dentist in Pharr TX to make him or her more comfortable.
Focus on the Positive Aspects of Tooth Extraction
You might believe that there aren’t many positive aspects of pulling out one’s teeth. However, to put the mind of a child in ease, you should draw up as many positives as you can. Tell your child about how the tooth extraction will help in improving their oral health. Talk about the tooth fairy and how your child will receive a bonus reward for having a tooth pulled out. You can also have your kid excited about getting ice cream for a few days following the tooth extraction.
Be Prepared for the Post Procedure Care
Post-procedure care is important for making the most of the tooth extraction process. Being prepared for it beforehand will make the process easier for you and your child and put your mind at ease too. It is also a good idea to purchase the necessary items you may need to administer post-treatment care. It is also necessary to create a comfortable area for your child to rest after the process. Read this article to learn more about post care of tooth extraction.
Give Your Child Something to Look Forward to
The best way to help your child get through the procedure is to give the child something to look forward to after the extraction procedure. Keeping their favorite food ready or carrying their favorite toy can help them in bearing the procedure for the reward awaiting them. Keeping their sight set at something bigger at the end of the road will help them cross the battleground with ease.
Dental extractions do not necessarily have to be traumatic for the children. With proper care and comfort, it can be a simple procedure for the children. Choosing the right pediatric dental clinic for tooth extraction in Pharr TX can make the procedure easy for you and your child, guaranteeing a bright and healthy smile.
6 Tips to Prepare your Child for Tooth Extraction
Dec 01, 2020
Tooth extraction is a dental procedure that involves the dentist taking your tooth out of its socket. Several factors could lead to tooth removal:
- Tooth decay
- Gum disease
- Broken teeth
- Impacted teeth
- Overcrowded teeth
- Shedding of milk teeth
When it comes to kids, they could be quite scared to undergo the procedure. You do not want your child to turn up at the dentist’s office crying and kicking. Do you? It is, therefore, your role as a parent or guardian to ensure you prepare them well. How do you that? We rounded up some essential tips to get your young one to co-operate.
Ask for the Best Anesthesia Option
Because tooth extraction pain is to be expected, your kid has to be anesthetized to numb the site of extraction. There exist three types of anesthesia:
- Local Anesthesia: For simple and short procedures, this is the recommended anesthesia. When administered, you will be wide awake during the whole procedure but won’t feel any pain. Local anesthesia quickly kicks in and wears out after a short time. As for administration, it can be directly applied to the area where the extraction will take place or injected.
- Sedation: There are three levels of sedation: mild, deep, and moderate. Depending on the sedation level, you could be conscious, semi-conscious, or unconscious.
- General Anesthesia: It is recommended for lengthy procedures or anxious patients. During the whole procedure, you will be unconscious and experience no pain.
Before booking your child in, talk to your dentist in Lancaster, SC, and discuss the best anesthesia for them.
Include your Kid in Decision-making
Yes, I know what you are thinking. Involving a three-year-old in decision-making may seem like an absurd thing to do, but trust me, it is the smartest thing you could do. Why? First, it is your kid’s mouth that is going to be worked on, so they have every right to know what awaits them. Second, doesn’t the constitution provides for the freedom of expression! The point is that you can’t make that decision for your child. They may have their worries, and they ought to be listened to. For instance, your mini-you might want to wait a bit longer, and that is okay. They may also want their tooth (if it is a milk tooth that wants to come out) to come out naturally. Without talking to them about the procedure, there is no chance of knowing their preferences.
Tell them what to Expect
Give your kid as much information as you can. Tell them what to expect once they walk into Kids First Dental Lancaster. This way, they won’t be shaken by the peculiar surroundings in the dentist’s room.
Be Positive
Get your kid to look at the bright side of the procedure. This is where the fairytale game should come into play. You could tell your kid that they could get a gift the next morning under their pillow if they place their tooth there. Of course, kids will believe the most outrageous things! Getting them to look at the positive side of the extraction reduces their anxiety and any fears they may have of the procedure.
A Favorite Toy, maybe?
Whether it’s a Barbie doll or stuffed rabbit, you might want to take with you one of your child’s favorite toys. Let them hold it throughout the procedure as it could reduce their anxiety. When the anesthesia wears off, and they wake up, at least they get to see one thing they’re familiar with.
Listen to People’s Experiences
If you know of anyone that has had their teeth extracted, talk to them. They might tell you important details that your dentist might have accidentally left out and even encourage your child to go through with the procedure. You should, however, avoid talking to people that make the whole process seem unbearable.
Finding the Right Clinic
If you are looking for a dental clinic that provides tooth extraction for kids, meet Dr. Leonardo Koerich at our office today. Our dentist is highly-experienced and prioritizes yours and your loved ones’ oral health. Call us today and book an appointment.
How to prepare your child for a visit to the dentist - articles MEDI
Psychological preparation is certainly necessary. How to implement it? The main task of relatives and friends is not to alert the child, but to reassure him before visiting the clinic, to set him up to see a doctor.
Two basic tips
If your child is in pain: convince him that the dentist will help - the pain will decrease or disappear completely.
If there is no pain and the first visit to the dentist is coming: should not warn the child, in the spirit of "don't be afraid", "it won't be scary", "it won't hurt". He does not yet know that he should be afraid of something. It is better to show the positive results of a visit to the doctor, taking into account age.
You can say to small children: “Teeth should be fed with porridge (jam) so that they do not get sick and grow faster.” For older children, the following argument is suitable: "You go to the dentist - your teeth will be healthy and beautiful."
A few general tips
When going to the dentist, do not focus on this. Do not emphasize the importance, exclusivity, and even more unpleasantness of the event. A visit to the doctor should be taken for granted.
Don't say that the doctor won't do anything. This is not so, and then the child will realize that he was deceived. Say that the doctor will look and clean your teeth, cure if they hurt.
Do not use "terrible" words - "prick", "drill", "drill", "drill".
You can rehearse a visit to the doctor. Tell me how to enter the office, sit in a chair, open your mouth and keep it open. Do each action with the child, take on the role of a doctor.
Arranging the visit
- Do not schedule a visit to the doctor during the hours when the child is usually sleeping (early morning, quiet hour) or tired (late evening).
- The child must come to the appointment well-fed.
- Bring a change of shoes if your child does not want to wear shoe covers.
- If the child is languishing and nervous while waiting for an appointment, come to the clinic 10 minutes in advance, not earlier.
If the child is small and hardly understands why and why they want to take him to the dentist, it is better to act according to this scheme:
- Say that you will go together to a kind doctor who treats teeth. All the children go to him, because he loves and treats them. From him all the boys and girls come out cheerful and healthy.
- Explain what the good doctor will do: "He will look at your teeth to see how they grow."
- Give a couple of "strong" arguments: "When dad and mom were little, they also went to the doctor who checks their teeth." Or: “This doctor had…” (name a fact known to you - the eldest child in the family, the neighbor’s baby, etc.).
- Emphasize that you will always be nearby in the doctor's office.
If your child is older and understands their dental problems, do this:
- Talk about why healthy teeth are important.
- If a son or daughter says that they are afraid of the dentist, be sincerely surprised: “Why should we be afraid of the doctor? He helps us get rid of troubles, advises, heals, takes care of our health.”
- If you yourself have ever expressed fears in the presence of a child before a visit to the dentist or shared unpleasant memories - admit the fallacy of your position: “I was also scared, but everything turned out differently - attentive doctors, painless treatment. The main thing is to set yourself up positively.”
- Finally, show your willingness to support the child: “Let's go to counseling together. I will be present in the office during your conversation with the doctor.”
What if the child is very afraid of being treated by a dentist?
Our doctors are true professionals. They love children. They strive to find an approach to each child. If the doctor, psychologist and parents (relatives) together help the child, the treatment is usually successful.
We have everything you need (up to general anesthesia) to carry out planned treatment under special circumstances, for example:
- if the child is very afraid;
- if there is a large amount of treatment to be done, and the child is small;
- if the child has an increased gag reflex or other medical indications.
Author
Preparing a child for the first visit to the dentist
Dear parents!
It is known that the fears inspired in childhood, a person cannot overcome all his life. That is why we attach so much importance to your child's first visit to the clinic.
It is best to visit the dentist for the first time when the child is not familiar with toothache and fear.
On the first visit, the doctor and assistant will get to know the child, let him play with tools, ride in the “magic chair”, read the tale of the Queen Toothbrush, look at photographs of other children in the dentist's office - usually someone else's example has a very positive effect on the child.
The doctor will examine the child, assess the correct development of the chewing and speech apparatus, and, if necessary, make x-rays. If the child allows, the doctor can brush his teeth on the first visit.
You will receive advice on how to properly brush your child's teeth and take care of your child's mouth at home.
The doctor will most likely start treatment only on the second visit. The child can choose the color of the filling.
These children's filling materials specifically release fluoride to protect teeth from caries.
It would be nice if, in preparation for the second visit, the child draws a picture as a gift to the doctor.
By the way, we have competitions for children's drawings of our patients.
How to properly prepare a child for a visit to the clinic
1. An authoritative adult who is not afraid of the dentist himself should talk to the child. The child is very sensitive, he will feel your tension and fear.
Tell your child about a visit to the doctor as an interesting but ordinary event, as about meeting new friends. See yourself as naturally and simply as possible.
Notify the visit no more than 1-2 days in advance, then the child will have less time to worry or hear “scary” stories from peers.
Give a “strong” argument: when dad and mom were little, they also went to the doctor who looks at their teeth.”
2. Don't say that the doctor won't do anything.
The child will understand that he was deceived and will lose confidence in you.
Describe the actions that a dentist usually performs: “The doctor will look and count your teeth, clean them, tell you that your teeth are loved. Or maybe the doctor wants to take a picture of them.”
Do not tell your child about anesthesia, removal, or other medical procedures.
3. Do not use the words “don't be afraid”, “it won't hurt”, “it's not scary”, “other children aren't afraid”, “prick”, “drill”, “drill”. The idea that a visit to the dentist might cause him pain does not occur to the child himself.
4. The first clinic visit can be rehearsed at home. Teach your child to keep his mouth open for 1-2 minutes, compete who can do it longer. You can play doctor with your child, “healing” the doll’s mouth, brushing her teeth (without using sharp objects).
5. Do not promise your child that you will buy him a new toy, sweets, etc.
He may think that he has to do something very difficult. He will be able to choose a gift for courage for himself at the end of the reception.