The office environment a child enters plays a big part in either contributing to or reducing anxiety. When children feel at ease with their surroundings, they tend to adopt a more relaxed attitude. We’ve designed our offices especially for children. The open atmosphere and cheerful colors will make them feel right at home.
Communicating with children on their level is one of the most important ways to reduce their fears. Our team excels at communicating with children, as it’s what we do all day long. We constantly apply a technique known as “Tell – Show – Do”. First, we tell the child what we’re going to do in terms they can easily understand. Next, we demonstrate it to them. Finally, we perform the procedure. This simple yet effective technique is often overlooked because it takes extra time.
However, we believe children shouldn’t be rushed and deserve the time they need.
If cavities develop and we need to provide dental treatment, we can use nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, to relax the child. This mild, odorless gas is breathed through a small nosepiece while the child remains awake and able to communicate throughout the dental treatment. It’s a very safe and effective technique.
While these methods usually reduce fear and anxiety, some children may still exhibit apprehension despite our efforts to put them at ease. In such cases, patience becomes our most valuable tool. When other options prove ineffective, demonstrating patience to a child eventually wins out. Nothing brings us more joy than seeing frightened children replace their fears with confidence and their frowns with smiles.