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Pediatric dentists are well aware that the language used during a dental visit can either relax a child or propel her into panic mode. After all, how many kids you know would welcome hearing the words "shot" or "injection" when they're sitting in the dental chair?
Fear of the unknown is a big reason why kids can be anxious or even frightened about an upcoming dental visit. To ensure that your child has a positive experience at the dentist, it's important that you're sensitive about the words you use when you talk about dental visits. The goal is not to mislead the child, but to avoid the formation of any negative attitudes about dentistry.
It's also a good idea not to share with your child any negative experiences at the dentist that you may have had in the past. Remember, dentistry has evolved tremendously, thanks to new technologies and techniques; it's now possible to undergo complex dental treatment with no pain!
Use words that don't elicit a negative reaction
Greg Psaltis, D.D.S., a pediatric dentist in Olympia, Washington, uses the following terms to describe procedures and instruments used in the practice he shares with Kerry Tramontanas, D.D.S.:
Instead of: Shot, needle or injection
Say: Sleepy juice
Instead of: Drill
Say: Whistle
Instead of: Drill on your tooth
Say: Clean your tooth
Instead of: Gas or nitrous oxide
Say: Magic air
Instead of: Numb
Say: Sparkley
Instead of: Examination
Say: Count your teeth
Instead of: Pull or yank tooth
Say: Wiggle a tooth out
Instead of: Explorer
Say: Toothpick
Instead of: Rubber dam
Say: Raincoat
Instead of: Air abrasion
Say: Sand blower
Instead of: Tooth cleaning or scraping
Say: Tickle your teeth
Pre-visit preparation—less is more
How should you prepare your child for a dental visit? What should you tell her? "Simply say, 'We're going to the dentist,'" Psaltis said.
"When you're going to the zoo, you don't say, 'We are going to the zoo where the tigers have really sharp teeth!' You simply say 'We are going to the zoo!' The goal is to avoid labeling dental visits as something to be afraid of," he said.
"We ask that parents allow us to do the preparation for the procedure," he said.
"When I am doing an exam and find decay, I say to the child, 'While I was counting your teeth, I found out that you have 21 teeth and two sugar bugs. We need to fix the sugar bugs. Are you willing to help me next time like you did today?' The child at this point is typically very positive and agrees enthusiastically to 'help' at the next appointment. That is all the preparation that's necessary," Psaltis said.
Problems occur, he said, when parents start talking to their children about "the shot" or "drilling." And often, the concept of pain doesn't even enter the child's mind until the parent announces, "Don't worry; it won't hurt!"
"Parents may give the child information that is misleading or incorrect, so the child worries needlessly," he said. "It's very easy for well-meaning parents to transmit their own dental anxiety onto their child. Of course they don't intend to do this. It just happens. Kids are very perceptive," he said.
"The goal is to help the child form positive attitudes about dentistry that will stay with her throughout her life, making it much easier to maintain excellent oral health," Psaltis said.