When you are in a position to take your special needs to a kid’s dentist, this becomes one of the most challenging moments. But as with any form of treatment involving children, dental visits do not have to be as painful and upsetting if certain conditions are met or certain procedures followed to the latter.
Here is a checklist that you can use to be ready for succeeding dental appointments.
1. Choose the Right Dentist
It is especially important to identify a dentist who has prior working experience with children with special needs. Take time and try to choose a pediatric dentist or dental office that would be able to meet all needs of your child. Having a dentist who can address the child’s needs makes a lot of difference in terms of the child’s comfort as well as the visit.
2. Prepare in Advance
For anxious people preparation should be made in order to control anxiety levels. It is recommended however, that in order to reduce the stress on your child, you should take him or her to the dental office before the appointment so that she or he becomes acquainted with the environment.
This pre-visit may be beneficial in order to reduce the level of anxiety of the patients and make even the appointment seem less daunting. Talk about the visit in an easy manner and try to describe what will happen in equally comforting language to eliminate anxiety when possible. I know it may be hard but try to use social stories or pictures to explain the process.
3. Share Ideas And Obtain Information from the Dental Team
Inform them of your child requirements during scheduling of the appointment at the dental office. Be sure to give any history of behavioral problems, Any issues with sensitivity to known stimuli, Any known medical concerns with your child.
This authorizes the dental team to prepare and make any changes required for instance switching on light or employing other means of calming the patient.
4. Use Comforting Strategies
While planning for the visit on that particular day should consider having along comfort items including; teddy bear, blanket or favorite music to play. They can keep them busy and have a soothing effect on the child during the appointment.
If your child has a high sensitivity to new stimuli like sound or touch it might be useful to talk to the dentist about what measures can be taken in advance for example, using headphones that will mute the sounds of the dentist’s equipment.
5. Be Patient and Positive
It has been found that a child’s attitude can be influenced to a greater extent by the attitude of the parent. Go to the visit brightly and calmly, do not rush, it is necessary to have time to understand something, and then it will be easier to remember.
Use positive reinforcement such as praising or rewarding the kid to encourage more of the right behavior. Do not say anything nasty or give a sour look if your child gets nervous, unyielding or rebellious. But it is better to stay calm and try to encourage a person.
6. Subsequent Appointment and Personal Check-ups
The appointment also has to have the following: The positive things that happened during the appointment; the negative things that happened during the appointment; because then one will know what to do in the next appointment.
The recommendations are that you should go to the dentist as often as they advised to go for a checkup if you want to have a general check up. A child will not fight brushing teeth if the practice is done every day, and he or she gets used to it.
7. Seek Professional Advice
If you have discovered that your child has anxiety or other special needs that affect the child’s ability to get dental care, you need to discuss the issue with a behavioral therapist or other experts who work with children with such needs. They can provide perceived other strategies and approaches.
Taking a child with special needs for dental visits is always challenging because one has to prepare well and should be friendly. Pre-consultations, choosing the right dentist, getting yourself as well as your child prepared, and aiding your child to be responsive, will make the dental appointments as stress-free as possible for your child.
