Going to the dentist can be scary for children, so it’s important to address their dental anxiety in a way that’s both kind and encouraging. Helping a child face their fears of the dentist will help set them up for a positive interaction and a stronger lifetime relationship with dentistry.
Common Causes of Dental Anxiety
Think about some of the reasons why your anxiety flares up as an adult. The fear of the unknown or remembering uncomfortable experiences are probably pretty big contributors, right? Kids have similar feelings, but coupled with big imaginations that can lead them to picture scenarios that create further fear and anxiety. An anxious child will also focus on previous stressful dental experiences, causing even more anxiety.
Infographic showing common dental anxiety triggers.
ONE WAY TO HELP PEDIATRIC ANXIETY? THE KIDS’ GUIDE TO THE DENTIST ACTIVITY BOOK
Put Young Patients at Ease by Preparing Them for Their Visit
To help put your young patients at ease, we created The Kids’ Guide to the Dentist as a free resource for your office! Follow along as a little lion cub has their first visit to the dentist and meets Dr. Bear! This educational coloring book will show kids what to expect during their appointments and take some of the anxiety out of a dental visit. The book is filled with activities like coloring pages, mazes, and connect-the-dots to keep kids engaged and entertained throughout the story. It’s written with kids language in mind and is perfect for preschool reading levels and beyond.
This guide can be easily printed off from your office printer as a waiting room activity. Or you can send it out to parents as a PDF to share with their kids before their dental appointments.
You can even request a custom version with your name as the dentist in the story, free of charge. Anywhere “Dr. Bear” appears will be replaced with your name instead. You can download the generic Dr. Bear version as well if you don’t want it customized.
Request your copy of the guide from the form below:
You can’t control the past experiences of your young dental patients, but you can control the current and future ones. Understanding what could have contributed to their dental anxiety and your willingness to help them overcome it will truly make a difference in their attitude and appointment success.
Interested in other helpful, free resources for your young patients? Check out these related resources:
IDS Kids Club – Kids can learn to draw with a series of videos and activity sheets!
