What to do if the child is afraid of the doctor

Children's fear of the dentist is a completely normal state before the unknown. If the child is terrified of the dentist, have a conversation with the child in advance about the benefits of dental treatment, give positive examples of peers, tell how you yourself were worried as a child, but in the end you made up your mind, and you don't regret anything now. After all, on the contrary, you are grateful to your parents for their care.

Form a positive image of the doctor. Do not scare the dentist, read books about doctors, tell them that the dentist is a friend. A common phrase: "If you are naughty, the doctor will come and give an injection" - will not contribute to such an image

Don't threaten! Phrases: "If you don't get treatment, your teeth will turn black and fall out" or "If you don't calm down, you'll have to be held" provoke fear and mistrust of you. First, it will spoil your relationship and affect the psyche of the child. Secondly, it will cause additional resistance, as a result of which the fear of the dentist may intensify.

Tell us what to expect from the reception. Explain in detail what will be examined and what procedures the doctor will perform. Silence and deception can cause hysteria and scary speculations about the doctor and his tools (a child's imagination is able to frighten itself skillfully). If the child knows in advance what he will be dealing with, anxiety will be significantly reduced.

Role-play a visit to the dentist. Play the role of a dentist: conduct an examination, put on disposable gloves so that they are not a novelty for the child. You can use an electric toothbrush instead of a dental tool. Improvise, change roles with the child. The main thing is to make the child understand that it is safe and not scary.

Keep your promises. If you say that you are only going for an examination, do not treat anything this time. If you are planning treatment, be sure to warn.

In no case do not make fun of the child's fear, do not devalue the feeling of fear and do not compare the child with other children who boldly cross the threshold of the dentist's office. If the child is afraid, talk to him about it and try to gradually get rid of his fear.

In no case do not scold the baby for cowardice, do not ignore his complaints. To eliminate his fear or at least significantly reduce the level of fear of the doctor, bring him to the clinic with you to your doctor. Show that everything that happens in the dental chair is completely natural, painless, and sometimes even short-lived, it is enough just to see "how things are with the teeth".