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 General Preparation for Checkups,
Consultations and Initial Exams
Please help us make your child’s dental experience a pleasant one.
You can explain to your child that we will count their teeth and
brush their teeth. Please avoid negative language – words like
“pick,” “needle,” “drill,” “fluoride,” “X-ray,” “examination light,”
etc. These words may frighten your child. We prefer to use words
such as tooth-counter, sleeping medicine, water whistle toothbrush,
motor cycle toothbrush, tooth vitamins, pictures of teeth, sunshine
etc. This is especially the case if you child has already had an
unpleasant dental experience. If you are unsure of what to say,
remember the saying “less is more.” Treat the visit as “no big
deal.” Our staff is trained to explain everything to your child
using age appropriate words which are easy for them to understand
and are pleasant and non-frightening while conveying the same
message. You can always answer their questions by saying, “I’m not
sure, let’s ask the dentist."
Preparing Children for Non
Check-up Treatment – Sealants, Fillings, Crowns, Extractions etc.
 As you know, kids are pretty intelligent. They can
sense when their parents are Anxious. Please be careful NOT to
verbalize or show your fears because your children can feel this.
The words “pain” or “hurt” are words that we do not use in our
office.
If your child has questions prior to treatment, other than regular
check-ups, try not to say too much – again “less is more.” Just as
with check-ups our doctors and staff will be sure to explain
everything to your child in words that are age appropriate and easy
for them to understand.
There are certain words that can provoke fear. Examples of these
negative types of words are those like “hurt”, “needle”, and “pain”.
We try not to use these words in our practice at all. We list some
alternative words at the bottom. Parents, siblings and friends tend
to inadvertently use these words and unintentionally cause their
children to become nervous or frightened.
Our staff is trained to use terminology that children can understand
and that has a pleasant connotation. For example: we don’t have
“drills” in our office, we have “water whistle toothbrushes”. They
whistle and squirt water. Which would you rather have in your mouth?
It all depends upon how it is presented. In addition, there are also
many distractions such as music, videos playing on the flat screen
TV’s, and stickers on the ceilings to find and count as prizes are
won throughout the visit.
Never tell your child that they are getting a “shot”, otherwise we
will never get them into our dental chair. Rest assured that we use
topical anesthetic, behavior modification techniques and distraction
so that most children don’t even realize that this is what they are
getting.
It is very important for us to have your child’s complete attention
during their treatment. After the first visit we would like for them
to accompany us back to our treatment area. If you would like to be
present, we ask that you be a “silent observer” so that you do not
distract your child’s attention away from us.
Alternative Word List
Dental Chair = magic chair
Patient Napkin = bib or napkin
Examination Light = sunshine
Eye Protection = sunglasses
Mirror = baby tooth mirror
Pick or explorer = tooth counter
Air/Water Syringe = wind and water squirter
Suction small = Mr. thirsty, small vacuum
Suction Large = Vacuum
Prophy angle or electric tooth cleaner = tickle toothbrush
Tooth Polish = toothpaste
Floss = tooth string
Fluoride = tooth vitamins
X-rays = tooth pictures
Lead Shield = heavy blanket
Cavity = hole in tooth
Decay = germs or “sugar bugs”
Shot = Squirt
Numbing Medicine = Sleeping Medicine
Hi Speed Drill = water whistle toothbrush
Slow Speed Drill = Motor cycle or bumpy tooth brush
Curing Light = Magic Blue Light, Blue’s Clues Light, Light Saber
Triturater = Blender
Following
these guidelines will help to ensure that your child
will have a pleasant dental experience.
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