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Making dental visits kid-friendly

Dr. Katherine Renne, pediatric dentist and Assistant Professor at the MUSC James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine
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Dr. Katherine Renne, pediatric dentist and Assistant Professor at the MUSC James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine

This week Bobbi Conner talks with Dr. Katherine Renne about making dental visits kid-friendly. Dr. Renne is a pediatric dentist and Assistant Professor at the MUSC James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine.

TRANSCRIPT:

Conner: I'm Bobbi Conner for South Carolina Public Radio with Health Focus here at the radio studio for the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to dental anxiety in children. Doctor Katherine Renne is here to talk about making dental appointments, kid-friendly, and helping children manage any concerns or fears that come up. Doctor Renne is a pediatric dentist, and she's an Assistant Professor at the James B Edwards College of Dental Medicine at MUSC. Doctor Renne, how can parents of young children prevent or reduce their child's anxiety related to going to the dentist?

Dr. Renne: Well, Bobbi first off, the earlier you start taking your child to the dentist, the better children will become more comfortable over time with regular dental checkups, and they will view the dentist as a familiar face and the dental office as a familiar environment. Also, this is part of why we recommend children having their first dental visit at age one, so that we get them used to coming to the dentist regularly and being more comfortable. And seeing children earlier also allows for early detection and prevention of oral disease, which can help avoid extensive treatment that can be more difficult for the child.

Conner: And how can parents prepare their child for the first couple of dental visits?

Dr. Renne: Parents should go ahead and start talking to their child about the dental procedure before the appointment. They should answer their child's questions honestly and openly, and describe the process in simple terms and comforting language. Refrain from using words like shot or needle, and parents should try to be positive or neutral when explaining what to expect, never negative.

Conner: What strategies or routines might a pediatric dentist put in place to make dental visits as stress-free as possible for kids?

Dr. Renne: Well, a pediatric dentist is a dentist who receives an extra 2 to 3 years of training to specifically treat children. Their offices are designed from the waiting room to treatment rooms, to be geared towards treating specifically children and making them more comfortable. And, the dentist takes more time to build trust and rapport with their patients by talking to them about their hobbies, their interests, you know, what pets they have, what sports they like to play, to help break the ice. They also use a technique called tell, show, do, where they use kid friendly language to tell the child what's going to happen, show them the equipment to help desensitize them and then do it. For instance, the child may bring a stuffed animal and the dentist can demonstrate counting the animal's teeth first.

Conner: What can parents do to best help a child who does seem to get anxious before or during dental visits?

Dr. Renne: Well, it's best for parents to use positive reinforcement for proper oral hygiene. Warning a child that they will have a huge dental procedure if they don't brush their teeth, is only going to increase their fear of the dentist. And, allowing the child to watch their older sibling go first for their checkup is also a great way to get them more comfortable. They see how simple and painless it is for their big sister or brother, and then they feel more comfortable and confident in doing it too. Also, PBS has a great Daniel the Tiger Daniel visits the Dentist video to help prepare kids for their first visit to the dentist. Also, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry has a lot of resources on oral health for parents and kids.

Conner: Doctor Renee, thanks for this information about preventing dental anxiety in children.

Dr. Renne: You're welcome.

Conner: From the radio studio for the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, I'm Bobbi Conner for South Carolina Public Radio.

Health Focus transcripts are intended to accurately represent the original audio version of the program; however, some discrepancies or inaccuracies may exist. The audio format serves as the official record of Health Focus programming.

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Bobbi Conner has been producing and hosting public radio programs for over 30 years. She was the longtime host of the national Parents Journal public radio program. Conner has lived in the Charleston area for over twenty years.