Behavior Management & Advanced Dental Care
Comfort For Every Child
At Wilmington Pediatric Dentistry, we serve children of all ages with exceptional and compassionate dental care and techniques. Visiting the dentist may be more difficult for some children than others. Some may find it challenging to stay still during their appointment and others may feel extra anxious. Our highly skilled pediatric dentists and dental team offer gentle behavior management and advanced dental care to help your child feel comfortable and calm.
Why Might My Child Need These Behavior Management Techniques?
We do everything we can to help your child feel comfortable and cooperative by using patience, guidance, encouragement and even humor—we always want them to have fun! If our “usual” approaches are not enough, we may use additional behavior management techniques that are proven to safely calm disruptive behavior, making sure your child has the best experience and is able to receive thorough dental care.
Behavior Management Techniques We Use
It can be normal for your child to feel anxious, nervous or even “act out” during their dental visit. As your pediatric dental experts, we are here to help mitigate these behaviors so that we can deliver the care your child needs. Behavior management techniques we may employ include:
Should My Child Go Back Alone?
We are committed to providing your child with high-quality dental care in a safe, supportive and nurturing environment. When it is age appropriate, we recommend that you, the parent or guardian, remain in our waiting area while we treat your child. Though you may think your child will feel comforted by your presence, your child may actually benefit from being seen without a parent present.
The Link Between Your Presence And Behavior Management
Encouraging older children to come back to the treatment room on their own helps build independence and trust with our team. In some cases, children who feel nervous may turn to their parents as a way to “escape” the situation. In these cases, it can benefit everyone for parents to wait in the reception area. This allows us to not only build a rapport with your child, but also to help them feel confident and comfortable about future dental visits.
If you do choose to accompany your child, please sit back and quietly observe. If more than one person is giving instructions, it may confuse them, and our goal is for the child to develop a connection with our pediatric dental team.
Gentle Care For Big Smiles
The dental chair can feel scary to a child. We get it! These behavioral techniques are not meant to make you feel guilty. Rather, they help create positive experiences for smooth sailing for you and your child. At every dental visit, our goal is to build good associations with visiting the dentist, ensuring a lifetime of good oral health. To learn more about how behavior management techniques can benefit your child or to schedule your child’s appointment, give our office a call at (910) 791-7380.
Catching Waves, Creating Smiles