Helping your kids get the dental care they need from their Michigan dentist

Just like you, your children deserve to have positive experiences when they visit their dentist. Sadly, many adults do not maintain regular dental visits due to lingering feelings of anxiety that formed when they were young. We believe in making your child's time in our office as pleasant as possible, exposing them to their first experiences before the time comes for them to receive treatment. Bringing your kids with you as you receive dental care in our Michigan practice is one of the various ways in which you can help them feel positive about seeing the dentist.

This ideal scenario is not possible for every one of our young patients. There are those who will not meet Dr. B. until their very first dental check-up. Under such circumstances, there is a lot that parents can do to facilitate a great dental visit for their child. We suggest that parents:

• Take measures to feel confident about dental visits. A calm parent calms the child. If you feel stressed about your child's visit to our practice, we encourage you to stop by and meet our friendly staff before the day of your appointment.
• Talk with children about dental visits, but do not offer up details on what a dental visit might include. Technique and technology have both changed over the years, so what your child experiences may be different than what you were treated to in your youth. If your child has questions, answer them as simply as possible, allowing us to provide information as needed. We have extensive experience in communicating effectively with our young patients in a way that makes them feel safe.
• Avoid telling children about unpleasant dental experiences, or that any procedure will be scary or painful. They remember these words and will harbor dental anxiety long before they have had the chance to experience the specialized care Dr. B provides.
• Teach children, through regular communication and practice, the importance of keeping teeth and gums healthy, using language that they easily understand. Portraying your child's dentist as the "good guy" who helps their teeth stay strong and happy facilitates the kind of trusting relationship dentists strives to maintain.

It is normal for children to feel anxious about new situations, like visiting the dentist. We take care to approach our young patients carefully, and in a way that shows them they are in caring hands. Contact us to meet our staff, or to schedule your family's next dental check-up.