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It’s not uncommon for children to have anxiety when visiting a dentist. From a child’s point of view, a trip to the dentist means having their mouth inspected by a stranger using unusual, scary-looking instruments. There are steps parents can take to help kids overcome their fear of dentists, however. At Discovery Dental in Eagle River, AK, their dental team is dedicated to providing the best child-centered care possible to young patients.

They understand that fears can be heightened by unknown sounds in an unfamiliar environment for a child who doesn’t know what to expect. To make sure their children understand a trip to the dentist isn’t something to fear, Discovery Dental encourages parents to follow these tips:

  • Eagle-River-AK-dentistStart Young: The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that children begin seeing a dentist at age one, or when their first tooth is visible. Discovery Dental sees patients from this young age through their teenage years. The earlier a child visits a dentist, the easier it is to teach them that there’s nothing to fear and plenty to gain.
  • Be Encouraging: Children pick up on their parent’s anxiety; if you feel apprehension about their visit, so will they! Speak in positive terms and let the experienced staff at Discovery Dental do the rest. If your child doesn’t like the flavors used in a treatment, for example, there are special ones they might enjoy trying instead.
  • Take Them To A Child-Centered Dentistry: A general dentistry is great, but can be intimidating to children not used to the environment of a dentist’s office. Discovery Dental offers a comfortable, child-friendly environment filled with toys and decorations. Dr. Chad Winthrop and his staff are patient and speak to children on a level they can understand.

If you want an anxiety-free trip to the dentist for your child, call Discovery Dental at (907) 622-5437. You can also visit the website of this kid’s dentistry for more information.

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