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Overcoming Fear in Pediatric Dentist Visits
Childhood is the most critical period when habits that will affect an individual’s entire life are acquired. Oral and dental health habits are also shaped during this period. However, for many parents, taking their children to the dentist can be a challenging process. Crying children, anxious parents… Yet, with the right approach and the guidance of an expert pediatric dentist (pedodontist), this experience can turn into an enjoyable adventure. As Atlas Sea Dental, we aim to instill a love for dentists in our little heroes while protecting their dental health.
What is Pedodontics and Who is a Pedodontist?
Pedodontics (Pediatric Dentistry) is a specialized branch that monitors the healthy development of primary and permanent teeth of children in the 0-13 age group, performs preventive applications, and treats problems that arise. A pediatric dentist not only treats teeth but also considers the child’s physical and emotional development. These are doctors who understand child psychology, use the “Tell-Show-Do” technique, and make the clinical environment non-threatening for children.
When Should the First Dentist Visit Be Made?
In the past, there was a misconception that “children are taken to the doctor only when their tooth hurts.” Today, the World Health Organization recommends that the first dentist visit be made “when the first milk tooth erupts” (between approximately 6 months and 1 year). The purpose of this early visit is not treatment, but introduction. The pediatric dentist checks the baby’s oral structure, warns the family against the risk of baby bottle tooth decay, and gives nutritional advice. A child who meets a doctor at an early age does not fear the white coat and sees check-ups as a natural part of their life.
Why Does Dental Phobia Occur in Children?
Children are not born afraid of the dentist. This fear is usually learned later.
- Fear Transmitted from Family: Parents recounting their own bad experiences in front of the child.
- Wrong Suggestions: Threatening sentences like “If you don’t behave, they will give you a shot,” or “They will pull your tooth.”
- The Unknown: The child not knowing what they will encounter.
- Being Late: Taking the child to the dentist only when they have severe pain. In this case, the child associates the pain they experience with the pediatric dentist.
Golden Advice for Parents
Suggestions for parents from Atlas Sea Dental’s expert pediatric dentist team:
- Be Honest but Simplify: Instead of saying “we are going to the doctor,” you can tell your child “we are going to count your teeth.” Never say “it won’t hurt at all”; if they feel a slight sensitivity, their trust in you will be shaken. It is more accurate to say “it might tickle a little.”
- Attention to Appointment Time: Choose times when the child is well-rested, full, and not cranky.
- Bring Their Toys: Bringing a favorite toy with them gives them confidence.
- Rewarding: A certificate of courage or stickers given by the pediatric dentist after treatment increases motivation. However, avoid large material rewards.
Why Are Preventive Treatments Important?
The main goal of pedodontics is to take precautions before decay occurs.
- Fissure Sealant: The grooves (fissures) on the chewing surfaces of molars are where decay starts most frequently. The pediatric dentist seals these grooves with a liquid filling material to prevent food residue accumulation. It is a painless and very effective protector.
- Fluoride Application: It strengthens tooth enamel and makes it resistant to acids. It is applied periodically in the form of varnish or gel.
Milk Teeth Should Not Be Neglected Thinking "They Will Change Anyway"!
This is one of the biggest misconceptions in society. Milk teeth are necessary for:
- The child’s nutrition (growth and development).
- Speech development to ensure correct pronunciation of letters.
- Most importantly: acting as a space maintainer for the permanent teeth that will come from below.
A milk tooth lost early or decayed can cause the permanent tooth below to emerge crooked or remain impacted. Therefore, every milk tooth should be treated by a pediatric dentist (filling, root canal treatment) and kept in the mouth until the age of falling out.
Space Maintainers
If a milk tooth has to be extracted long before its time due to infection or trauma, simple appliances called “space maintainers” are made to prevent the gap from closing. This prevents future orthodontic problems. This need is determined during pediatric dentist check-ups.
Trauma and Fractures
Children are energetic; they run, play, and explore. This mobility can sometimes result in falls or collisions. Especially in school-age children and sports activities, fracturing or completely knocking out (avulsion) front teeth are common situations. In such a moment, parents being calm and acting with the right information determines the life of that tooth.
If your child’s tooth breaks or is knocked out, here is what you should do:
- Find the Piece: Definitely find the broken tooth piece or the knocked-out tooth.
- Do Not Touch the Root: Hold the knocked-out tooth only by the white part (crown). Touching the root part can damage the living cells there.
- Do Not Clean: If the tooth is dirty, do not scrub it, do not use soap or alcohol. Just rinse gently with clean water.
- Correct Storage Condition: The most ideal environment to keep the tooth alive is cold milk. If there is no milk, it can be stored in the child’s own saliva (in the cheek pouch). Wrapping the tooth in a napkin or keeping it in a dry environment causes the cells to die.
- Golden Hour: The first 30-60 minutes after trauma are very critical. If you apply to Atlas Sea Dental without wasting time, our doctors can glue the broken piece back (bonding) or save the knocked-out tooth by replanting it.
- Milk Tooth or Permanent Tooth? If the tooth knocked out as a result of trauma is a “milk tooth,” it is usually not put back in place so as not to damage the permanent tooth below. However, a doctor’s examination is still essential to check the surrounding tissues and the need for a space maintainer.