Suggetions for a 10 yr old afraid of dentist?

When my step daughter went for a root canal they gave her some kind of children’s Xanax. I don’t know if that’s an option for a routine drilling, but it’s a suggestion.

Have you tried some sedative? I understand his fear. I’m 35 years old and have to take a couple valium before I get any work done.

My son goes to a pediatric dentist that uses “gas” to calm the children so that he can work on their teeth. He doesn’t given them enough to put them to sleep, just enough to calm them down and help them relax. Have you checked to see if any of the dentists in your area offer something like this?

What about the gas? My sisters kids love going to the dentist. They are about the same age and love the gas.

Some dentists are liberal with sedatives or gas.

Are you taking him to a pediatric dentist? GA@seaofclouds, I was going to suggest “gas”; for years, it was the only thing that worked on my sister,

Well he should be! I was just as afraid of the dentist when I was younger… they really did a number on me.

Usually, the solution in my situation was easy – my dad would buy me a new video game and I’d endure the torture. I guess offer to get him something he really likes for a reward and maybe he’ll try to bare the pain?

I’d say a sedative is in order if all other measures fail.

The tooth must be attended too, and if that means they KO the kid for 20 minutes…and he is none the wiser, surely that’s an option.

I always had the nitrous oxide as a kid & headphones…dream dentist. lol

I forgot about the sodium pentathol I got for my wisdom’s to be yanked!! Woo Hoo!

My sister had to be put under for the Dentist to work on her. Her gag reflex was such that all the assistant had to do was put the mirror in her mouth and she was talking to ralph.

Near where I live there are several dentists who advertise that they cater to phobic patients. Most offer nitrous oxide or other mild sedatives.

You have got to find a dentist who uses the gas or strong sedative. In this case the cavity has to be dealt with first, then the child’s phobias/fears. Good luck, let us know the outcome.

Whatever you do, don’t take the kid to a dentist that uses animatronic clowns to hold tools wearing cracked vintage clown masks. That shit is terrifying standing next to you as it passes drills to a man yanking shit out of your face and sticking syringes full of drugs into your gums. Thanks, Mom.

I say gas him.

Are you serious?

Nah….that’s just creepy! lol

When I was ten years old, my dentist went to special classes to learn hypnotism, because I bit him pretty hard the last time I had gone in. Not on purpose, just sayin’ ....

It worked, or else I pretended that it worked because I got to hear what he and my dad said about me while I was “under”. Either way, I didn’t bite him again. I don’t know if any of them still do that, but back then there were no sedative or happy gas alternatives. So probably not.

@eden2eve Actually, there is. I forgot the guy’s name, though. And I bit the dentist on purpose; broke the guys finger! I’m still proud of it.

This is giving me flashbacks of the time my daughter had to have a baby tooth pulled because the adult tooth coming up under it had caused an infection. It took two trips to the dentist, and they finally gave her gas. My husband also bribed her with a new toy. The dentist told my husband that in his experience the smarter kids are more likely to panic because they can easily imagine everything that can go wrong and are less likely to just accept the statement, “This won’t hurt a bit!”

I think it’s important for kids to like their dentist and feel comfortable. Switching from one office to another doesn’t give your son a chance to build trust with a dentist. Maybe the next appointment can be just a “get to know you” session. Your son and the dentist can talk about what will happen, exactly what your son is afraid of, and what the dentist will do to prevent those fears from becoming reality. When you go to get the cavity filled, it won’t be done by a stranger.

My kids aren’t generally scared of the dentist, but the sight of the numbing needle coming right at your face can make anyone nervous. Our dentist has a unique approach where he directs the child’s attention to whatever DVD is playing in the exam room and brings the needle in slow and from the side. He’s filled a few cavities for my kids and pulled two baby teeth, and the kids never actually saw the needle. He also uses gas when needed.

Good luck!

tell him a story how the dentist needs an assistant or hes gonna fail and gonna get fired
your boy will feeel like he has to help him and therefore just sit there
and after take him out somewhere to eat ice cream

=)

You need to find a pedodontist that has local hospital priveleges- your child needs to be sedated in a hospital setting to have this work done. good luck.

I think you need to discuss his fears and listen to him. Talking about fear gives it less power. You might also try to ask him to write his fears on a piece of paper and do something destructive with it like burning it. For the most part, be extremely patient, supportive, and loving during this time.

@monicaa312 Not all kids are that caring. I sure wasn’t. I wouldn’t have care if the dentist fell out the window.

The poor thing. Find a dentist who Promises he uses gas on kids and tell your son he’ll enjoy the mask and the orange smell. Or hide xanax or valium in his food beforehand. Wish I could help more.

He did great!! Thanks for all the suggestions!! It was touch and go but getting him involved in the process was key to getting through it!

Lucille’s suggestion of not talking about it was what I believe made it all happen. She PM’d me the idea to not talk or fixate on the event really worked like a charm. We just drove to the Dr’s and he told me the brave version of him would go through the office door!. He let them numb him and the power went out and I thought OH NO!!! Thankfully it came back on and he is now expert at cavities of which he promised he would do better at trying to avoid!!

:))

@Cruiser -I am glad to help:)
He is a brave little boy!

Another thing he can do, once he is in the chair tell him to close his eyes. If he does not watch the needle or the dental tools coming at him he won’t be as nervous.

@lucille He was very brave especially when the power went out!! He toughed it out and I am proud!

@WestRiverrat What helped was they gave him the “sucker” to hold on to and I was impressed as he held it to his ear to mask the sounds of the drill that were most bothersome to him!! Making him part of the process helped as he likes to help out!!

Pick a dentist with a tv above the dentist’s chair showing a series he loves. Most dentists in Germany do feature this.

@mattbrowne They actually had one there and right before they were to start drilling a nasty thunderstorm killed the power and aslo knocked out their cable. Thankfully the power came on so they could finish their work but the cable did not!

you could reward him with something he likes maybe videogames and stuff like that oh and if he doesn’t know yet tell him that you get to eat icecream after!