Overcoming Children Who Are Afraid of Going to the Dentist

Surveys in Indonesia show that 90% of children are afraid of going to the dentist. This is a normal thing to happen, even adults often have the same fear. There are several things that need to be prepared so that your little one dares to go to the dentist.

1. Do " Sounding" first on the child
   Before visiting the dentist, parents should explain who the dentist is, give children an idea of what the dentist will do. Parents can show videos about visits to the dentist. After that parents can role play with children . This can make children accustomed to situations that occur at the dentist.
2. Visiting the dentist at 1 year old
   According to WHO, a child's first visit to the dentist is on their first birthday. This is intended to introduce children to the situation and examinations that will be carried out by a pediatric dentist so that children become accustomed to visiting the dentist.
3. Accompany the child during the first examination
   Make the examination situation as comfortable as possible. At the first meeting the child can sit on his father's or mother's lap first. The pediatric dentist will also explain the procedure to be carried out and the tools used to examine the child's teeth.
4. Parents are calm when the child is being examined
   Parents are expected to be calm and positive when their child is being examined. Parents' feelings are very attached to children. If parents feel afraid and anxious when their child is being examined, their child will feel the same way. On the other hand, if the parents are calm and have a positive attitude, the child will feel the same way so that the child will be more cooperative in the examination.
5. Give a "reward" to the child
   The reward given is not always in the form of goods, it can be in the form of a child's favorite food, allowing the child to play longer or praise to the child. This will make the child more motivated to dare to go to the dentist.

Friends of Hermina, here are some tips that can be done to prepare children to go to the dentist. Come on, check your child's teeth from an early age!