YOUR CHILD’S DENTAL VISIT

Children are not just miniature human- beings. Their whole gestalt and internal environment is different from adults. Children are highly sensitive, impressionable, and open to non- verbal communication; unlike adults- who are desensitized and cynical!
With, proper precautions, home care and regular professional interventions your child can pass through his cavity prone years, absolutely cavity free. However, for this, it is necessary that your child visits the dentist regularly for institution of preventive dentistry measures. Also he ought to co- operate during dental treatment.

Let us review the common problem encountered by a Dentist, during treatment of children.

“MY CHILD DOES NOT BRUSH”
Children are great imitators and try to imitate their parents in all their activities. So in case your child does not brush properly, then it is quite likely that your child is just imitating you. Do a little bit of introspection. Are your oral hygiene habits the way they should be?.
Set an example. Brush your teeth regularly three times a day with the proper technique. Your child will be pleased to imitate you.

“WHAT IS CHILDHOOD WITHOUT CHOCOLATES”
Chocolates are not banned. But they should be used sensibly & excess consumption must be avoided. They should be used for fun and not as a bribe or reward.
In case if your child still wants chocolates than the following precautions must be taken
[a] Sweets should be given before meals and not after meals. The process of chewing cleans some
of the sweets sticking on the tooth surfaces.
[b] Raw fruits, vegetables, salads must be consumed after sweets.
[c] The child must be given something like cheese or groundnuts to munch after sweets. They are alkaline in nature & somewhat neutralize the local acidity caused by sweets.
Parents ought to follow these precautions at home. However, regular dental check- ups and institution of preventive measures as deemed necessary by a dental surgeon are a must. Alas, most parents visits a dentist only when a child’s tooth is paining and when child is in distress. At that time it is somewhat difficult to elicit co- operation from the child.

“A VISIT TO THE DENTIST IS DIFFERENT ”
A visit to a pediatrician involves shorter sessions, while a dental surgeon requires more time for treatment session and a few follow up treatment sessions are usually required. With increase in patient awareness, vaccinations and affluence, the incidences of medical disease is becoming less. However lifestyle and diet. No wonder, dental disease are increasing alarmingly. A high degree of patient co- operation, motivation and consistency in follow- up are required for complete treatment and institution of preventive dentistry measures.

“PREPARING A CHILD FOR A DENTAL VISIT”
Do not let the child carry the burden of of your apprehensions. If the experience is to be pleasant, do not verbally or non-verbally directly or indirectly alarm the child.
When the tooth is paining you may tell something like ” The Doctor takes care of the teeth when they are paining and makes them alright” Answer only the questions the child wants to ask giving appropriate information properly which does not scare or demotivates the child.
Prepare the child for the Dental visit but the less prepping you do the better.

“IT IS NOT GOING TO HURT YOU….”
By saying so you have planted the notion of pain in your childs head. “If it is not going to hurt why mention it at all. There is definitely something fishy” wonders the child. Let the children listen and look at the Dental surgeon & form their own impressions. Even if the treatment involves minor discomfort the Dental surgeon & patient can get through it.

“DOCTOR WILL GIVE YOU AN INJECTION…”
This threat is usually made by parents during or just before a Dental visit. It does not serve any purpose & is counterproductive. It creates unnecessary fears in the mind of the child regarding Denatl treatment. Besides in modern dentistry even an injection is absolutely painless.
“I WILL GIVE YOU AN ICECREAM IF YOU BEHAVE PROPERLY……”
Neither do bribes work. In fact it only makes the child suspicious. It is not any special day, so howcome all of a sudden mummy has become so generous. Children are highly impressionable and it is difficult to hide anything from them.
Bribes also make the child more obstinate.

“LOOK AT HIM. HE IS SO GOOD AND YOU ARE A # # # # # # # ….”
Never compare two children. Each child is nature’s unique creation & should not be compared. It is best that siblings be bought separately for treatment. If two siblings are bought together for treatment it is best that one of them watches while the other is being treated but not in the first few sessions. Only when the child settles down and co-operates with the Dental surgeon than the other sibling should be allowed to watch.
“ONCE THE CHILD IS ON THE DENTAL CHAIR……”
Let the Dental surgeon take over. Do not talk or in anyway interfere when the treatment is in progress unlesss specifically requested. Do not threaten, reprimand, admonish, bribe, amuse, reassure or try to pacify the child. The parent should stay outside the vision of the child as a silent observer. The Dental surgeon knows how to manage children & knows their likes and dislikes. It is imperative that there should be absolutely no conversation between the child and parent during the treatment sessions.
The parent’s presence during treatment is only for support

NEED FOR SEDATION
Inspite of the best efforts of the Dental surgeon some children may not co-operate during treatment. In such cases it is best to complete the treatment under sedation. Sedation is recommended for the following cases:
1) If the child is too young. Co-operation from a very young child who is below the age of
comprehension is not expected anyway.
2) In children who require extensive Dental treatment, which otherwise would take many
sessions. Sometimes, it is practical to complete the treatment in one session under sedation.
3) In obstinate children who refuse to co-operate.
4) In emergency cases or in cases of trauma.
5) In certain medical conditions.
Most children can be successfully be managed & treated without sedation. However, sometimes sedation is necessary keeping the childs best interests in mind.