Preparing your child for their visit with Dr. Benedict.
Children frighten much more easily than adults. They are very aware of the words you choose (even if they don't always act like it when you ask them to do something!). We try to avoid words that scare children or that are associated with previous unpleasant experiences. You can help us by trying to use different words around the house other than those used to describe negative dental experiences.
Our intention in using these words is not to "fool" children. We want their trust, after all. We won't earn their trust by tricking them. Instead, we simply want to use a vocabulary to give them a fair chance to start their visits without unnecessary fears. Our experience has shown us that using these words really is useful in making their trips to our office less frightening.
Our Terms
sleepy juice
use the whistle
clean a tooth
wiggle a tooth out
the tooth has a sugar bug
count your teeth
tickle your teeth
toothpick
raincoat
magic air
it might bother
Scary Terms
shot or "needle" or anesthetic
use the drill
drill on a tooth
pull or yank a tooth
the tooth has decay or a cavity
dental examination or look for decay
clean your teeth
pick or explorer
rubber dam
laughing gas or gas or nitrous
it might hurt
Preparing yourself for your child's visit with Dr. Benedict.
You may choose whether or not you accompany your children to their dental appointments. Although we sense that some children do better without parents present, we are open to having you with your child. If you choose to be present, we suggest the following guidelines to improve the chances of a positive experience for everyone, especially the young patient.
- Be supportive of our practice terminology.
- Allow us to explain the procedure to the child
- Be a silent observer, please. Support your children by touching instead of talking. This allows the children to get their comfort from you and their instructions from us.
- It usually doesn't happen but if asked to leave, be prepared to walk away without showing any hesitation.
- "Acting out" is normal for children but unsafe or unhealthy in most dental situations.
- Children usually learn how to communicate their needs to their parents but in the cases where children "act out" in the dental chair they get in the way of what is really best for them. In those cases, the parents and the dentist must work together to give the children what they need. When parents leave the room if asked, it signals to the child that the parent trusts the doctor. It is a powerful message and the child eventually responds by becoming more compliant and eager to please.
- Even though you are not present, your child will be in safe, nurturing, and compassionate hands. Dr. Benedict has more than 30 years experience and is the mother of three children.