QODC

Don’t Let Stress And Anxiety Keep Your Little One From Their Dental Check-up

Bringing your little one to the dentist for the first time can be stressful: Will they sit in the chair? Will they open their mouth for the dentist? Will they be scared? Then add a pandemic where they haven’t been away from their grown-ups much if at all… no wonder we have parents calling us left and right voicing concerns and asking if they really need to bring their kiddo to the dentist or if they can push it off. 

Well, at Quince Orchard Dental Care we believe that pushing off a dental exam (even during a pandemic) can be harmful to your child’s oral development. It’s important to start good dental habits early and that includes visiting the dentist twice a year for a cleaning. That said, we know how stressed out you are - we’re parents too! That’s why we work hard to ensure that your child doesn’t experience any stress or anxiety while at our practice - in COVID times and normal life as well. Read on to learn more about how our practice strives for the best experience possible - for grown-up AND kiddo. 

Positivity Goes a Long Way

Children feed off what they see their grown-ups expressing. If you’re anxious, they will be too. Rest assured that as a pediatric dental office, we specialize in kids as young as 1 year old and we know how to keep them positive and relaxed. 

Before the pandemic, we ensured that our waiting room was full of toys to keep your child entertained prior to their appointment. While we can’t do that right now, we’re always waiting to greet you at the door with a bright happy atmosphere, happy voices and smiling eyes above our masks! 

Plus, you are always welcome to stay in the examination room with your child. They’ll sense your calm and they’ll feel more comfortable knowing you’re right there with them for the entire appointment. 

Distraction and Relaxation

Think about your last spa visit...feels like an eternity ago, we’re sure! There was probably soft music to relax you. Well at Quince Orchard Dental Care we ensure there is fun music and maybe a video for your kiddo to watch to help distract them during a procedure and help support their sense of relaxation. 

Listening and Explaining

We care about you and your kiddos. That’s why we start every visit with a conversation. Your child is invited to tell us about their day and any concerns they may have, then we follow up with an explanation of what we’ll be doing. Often children (and adults!) will lose their fears by simply understanding what is happening, when and why.

We encourage you to do some reading with your child prior to their appointment. There are some wonderful children’s books about going to the dentist that will help them understand what will happen before they arrive. Some suggestions are: Curious George Visits the Dentist, Celebrate! Going to the Dentist, Dentist Trip (Peppa Pig) and Just Going to the Dentist (Little Critter). Links are provided but we encourage you to go to your favorite local bookstore! 

Relaxation and Sedation

For those children who need just a little extra TLC, we do offer nitrous oxide, a relaxation technique commonly used to reduce anxiety and alleviate any pain.

For more complex dental issues and extreme anxiety, Dr. Lewis and Dr. Maghsoudi see patients under general anesthesia at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital. 

At Quince Orchard Dental Care we care about your teeth but we also care about your mental and emotional well being. If you have further concerns about booking an appointment please give us a call - we’re happy to discuss and answer any questions. 

At Quince Orchard Dental Care, we are well versed in oral care for our littlest patients up to our teens and we’d love to meet your family! Call us at +1 (301)-527-2727 or click below to schedule an appointment. We can’t wait to meet you and your little one!