Positive Experience with Dental Care

Nobody wants children to cry. We don’t want children to be upset, and it upsets us to hear them cry. But we also want our children to be able to tolerate dental and medical procedures. They need to tolerate being examined by doctors and dentists, and sometimes they need to be able to tolerate difficult procedures. So what do we do when a child comes into the office and cries? The first thing to do is to let go of making a particular visit go a particular way, take a deep breath and think long term. Think of what you want for your child. Yes, you and your child’s dentist want to finish. But you also want your child to trust you, trust people in authority, and you want your future child, when they are an adult to go to the dentist regularly.

First of all, after we’ve relaxed a bit, let’s forget about any one specific exam or visit and take a long term view. Our goals for our children require that we do that. We want children to have the capacity to tolerate medical and dental procedures, not just today, but for the rest of their life. Many adults avoid the doctor and the dentist just because of difficult experiences they had as a child. You don’t want that to be your child’s future. Some children get sick and have to tolerate a tremendous amount of medical or dental procedures. If this child already has a fear of medical procedures, this child now has two problems, not just one.

So, given the long term view, any one visit to the dentist is not crucial for your child’s teeth. What is crucial is that your child has a neutral, or possibly positive view of the dentist. But how can you achieve that, when your child screams in the dental chair?

What can you do?

Dr. Lal, DDS is an experienced pediatric dentist who has helped many anxious children feel more comfortable while receiving dental care. He employs a recognized approach of desensitization: exposing children gradually to the dentist’s office and to procedures they will experience. At this time, insurance companies do not reimburse for anxiety reduction visits for dentists, they only reimburse for actual dental procedures. Therefore, all ARV’s will be charged directly to you. Dr. Lal will demonstrate and explain procedures to your child in a step by step fashion over time.

Kimberly Kleinman, LCSW is an experienced child and adolescent psychotherapist who has helped many young people with anxiety issues. She employs a specialized approach to helping children identify and master their fears that will help them in the dental chair and beyond. Some insurance companies may reimburse you for a diagnostic consultation and the psychotherapeutic visits. Ms. Kleinman will explore your child’s feelings and thoughts about sitting in the dental chair, and help your child develop techniques for coping with anxiety and fears that could benefit your child in many areas of his or her life.