Have a great time during your next visit to the dentist with these helpful tips.

A visit to the dentist can be really fun when you feel prepared and confident! With some practice and some helpful tips in mind, you can have a great experience at the dentist and even teach your parents some new things.

Let’s take a look at a few ways you can make the most of your dental appointments.

Reading books about visits to the dentist is a fun way to learn and get prepared.

When your parents book your dental appointment, the staff member they speak to will tell them what your appointment will include. Some appointments are checkups and cleanings, while others might be treatment appointments. Once you know what type of appointment you’re going to, you can start preparing for it.

If you’re still new to going to the dentist, a great way to help prepare yourself and your parents is by reading books about the dentist. There are a lot of books about dentists for kids of all ages. Your parents can find some at your local library, or they can check on Amazon.

If your appointment involves getting a filling or something similar, you can find books and even cartoons that talk about what will happen during your appointment. You can also ask your parents to look online to see if they can find kid-friendly videos that take you through a dental appointment!

Asking your dentist about the cool machines in their office can help you and your parents feel more comfortable.

One of the first things you notice when you see your dentist is how many different machines and tools they use. Even though your parents have been to the dentist a bunch of times, they might not even recognize some of the new technology your pediatric dentist uses.

Some of the tools you’ll probably see during your appointment are a digital X-ray machine and an intraoral camera.

Back when your parents were kids, they didn’t have either of these cool new tools!

The digital X-ray machine takes super detailed pictures of the inside of your mouth so your dentist can see your teeth and bones. The intraoral camera is like a handheld camera. While your dentist moves it around in your mouth, you and your parents can watch the video on a computer monitor or iPad.

If you see something in your dentist’s office and you don’t know what it is, don’t feel silly about asking! Your dentist and everyone who works at your dentist’s office loves to talk about the cool stuff they use to help you get a beautiful smile.

Feeling nervous about a visit to the dentist is normal for both kids and parents, but talking it out can really help.

A common emotion kids feel when they think about going to the dentist is nervousness or anxiety. Feeling nervous about the dentist is so common that many adults feel it too — maybe even your own parents.

The best thing to do if you feel nervous is to first be kind to yourself. What you feel is completely normal and is nothing to hide or be embarrassed by. Then, you should go to your parents and tell them how you’re feeling and what you’re thinking.

Another good thing to do is tell your dentist, the dental assistant, or hygienist that you feel nervous. Even though they might seem like strangers at first, your dentist and their team are really your friends. By telling them how you feel, they can do an even better job at making you more comfortable.

If you feel anxious during your visit to the dentist, they can help you relax by giving you happy air.

Even though you know there’s nothing to worry about when you visit your dentist, sometimes you might still feel a bit nervous or worried. If you’re sitting in your dentist’s chair and you suddenly feel this way, all you need to do is let your parents know or tell your dentist. Your dentist wants to make every patient feel relaxed and comfortable, and for nervous kids, there’s a special thing we call “happy air.”

You’ll breathe in the happy air through a special mask over your nose. This air smells sweet and pleasant, and in just a minute, you’ll start to feel happy, calm, and maybe even a little silly.

Remind your parents to bring along a book or a tablet so they can have something to do while you visit with your dentist.

When you were really little, one of your parents probably sat with you during your dental appointment. But as you get older, you’ll be ready to see your dentist all by yourself while your parents wait in the waiting room.

Seeing your dentist by yourself can make you feel grown-up and very proud! Sometimes, though, it’s hard for parents to wait, even though you’ll only be in the other room. A good way for parents to feel better about this is to remind them to bring a book or a magazine so they have something to do while they wait.

If you or your parents have questions about your dental visit, help is just a phone call away!

Now you know what to expect during your next dental appointment, and all that’s left is to wait for the big day to arrive! While you and your parents are waiting, remember that you can call our Omaha office at any time if you have questions or need help.

The team at The Tooth Doc is always eager to chat with you and your parents about oral health. They can also help your parents with some of the more boring adult stuff, like filling out forms or talking about insurance.