"Maybe it's about balance? Distractions can be great for emergencies or first visits, but at some point, shouldn't we shift toward helping kids understand and cope with what's actually happening?"
Totally agree with this. My son chipped his tooth playing soccer once (of course it had to be the weekend 🙄), and the dentist we rushed to had one of those ceiling TVs. It was a lifesaver in that moment, but honestly, after that first visit, I made sure we talked through what happened and what to expect next time. It wasn't easy—he was still nervous—but gradually he got more comfortable just by knowing what was going on.
I think distractions are like training wheels: helpful at first, but eventually kids need to learn to ride without them. And you're right about adults too... I'm way less anxious at the dentist now because my current dentist actually explains things clearly instead of just sticking a drill in my mouth and hoping for the best 😂. So yeah, distractions have their place, but building trust through communication definitely feels like the better long-term strategy.
"I think distractions are like training wheels: helpful at first, but eventually kids need to learn to ride without them."
Fair point, but isn't it also about personality? My daughter actually does better with distractions every visit. Knowing too many details just ramps up her anxiety...maybe some kids always need that buffer?
My daughter actually does better with distractions every visit.
I get your point, but honestly, as someone who's always been anxious at the dentist, distractions never stopped being helpful for me. Even now as an adult, zoning out to music or TV helps way more than knowing what's happening step-by-step... personality definitely matters.
"Even now as an adult, zoning out to music or TV helps way more than knowing what's happening step-by-step..."
Totally agree with this. I've seen plenty of patients (kids and adults alike) who relax better when they're distracted. Sometimes knowing every detail just ramps up anxiety... a little Netflix goes a long way, trust me!
Interesting perspective, but doesn't it depend a lot on personality type? I'm the opposite—I actually feel calmer when I know exactly what's happening step-by-step. Netflix or music might distract me temporarily, but my mind keeps circling back to the unknowns. Like when I got braces as an adult, I asked the orthodontist to explain every single step. Knowing what was coming next made me feel more in control and less anxious overall. Maybe distraction works better for some people, but for others like me, detailed explanations can be reassuring. Have you noticed if certain personalities or anxiety levels respond differently to distraction vs. information? Curious if there's any pattern there...
