Imagine your 7-year-old suddenly needs a cavity filled, but every time you mention the dentist, they freak out—like, legit tears and hiding under the bed. Would you try to talk them through it, bribe them with ice cream (ironic, I know), or just let the dentist handle it? Curious how other parents have handled this kind of meltdown. Any tricks that actually worked?
Distraction works wonders for some kids—I've seen parents bring headphones and let their kid watch a show during the appointment. Sometimes, just meeting the dental team ahead of time helps too, so it’s not all unknowns on the big day. Have you tried a “practice visit” where your child just sits in the chair and gets used to the space? Sometimes that makes a huge difference.
Practice visits made a difference for us too—my older son was really anxious, and just sitting in the chair without anything happening helped him relax. One thing I’d add: we also brought his favorite stuffed animal along, and the dentist let him “check” its teeth first. That little bit of control seemed to take the edge off. I’m not sure distraction alone would’ve worked for him, but combining a few strategies got us through it.
Practice visits made a difference for us too—my older son was really anxious, and just sitting in the chair without anything happening helped him relax.
Letting the kid “check” the stuffed animal’s teeth first is a great idea. We did something similar—my daughter got to pick the flavor of the polish and hold the suction thing herself for a minute. That sense of control really matters. I do think practice visits help, but for us, the biggest thing was explaining every single step before it happened. Surprises made her more anxious. Distraction alone wasn’t enough either; she needed to feel prepared.
Definitely agree about giving kids some control. My son was way more chill once he got to ask the hygienist a bunch of questions and mess around with the suction thing too. For us, the “practice visits” weren’t really an option because our insurance only covers so many appointments, and honestly, I didn’t want to pay for extra ones just to get him used to the office. Ended up just talking through what would happen, step by step, and letting him bring his favorite stuffed animal. Still some tears, but at least he went through with it.
I tried the bribery route once—ice cream after—but it backfired because then he expected a treat every time. Not sustainable on a budget or for his teeth. In hindsight, prepping him mentally worked better than any reward.
