What Are Some Signs And Symptoms of Dental Anxiety In Children

While some children cannot wait to see a dentist for their first dental procedure, for other children, the mere thought of sitting in a dentist’s chair for a procedure sends cold shivers down their spines. This situation can be as bad as a child wanting to endure pain from dental defects and diseases than stepping foot in a dental clinic for treatment.

For children undergoing their first dental procedure, it can be mixed feelings of excitement, anxiety, nervousness, and the fear of the unknown. If your child falls into any of these categories, they might have dental anxiety.

Dental anxiety is the feeling of uneasiness or worry over an upcoming dental procedure. While some people do not like going to the dentist, they do not necessarily experience panic, fear, or anxiety because of this. However, a child with dental anxiety views every dental procedure as real and frightening. Such a child might even have actual panic symptoms before a dental visit. If the negative feelings from dental anxiety are not well managed, they could degenerate and become dental phobia (dentophobia/odontophobia).

Dental phobia is when you are terrified or panic-stricken at the thought of a dental procedure. People with dental phobia will do everything possible to avoid going to the dentist unless they are in extreme unbearable pain. Dental anxiety and dread in children are mostly connected to negative experiences with previous dental procedures and the attitude of their parents and siblings towards the dentist.

Different Causes Of Dental Anxiety In Children

• Fear of pain: Although dental procedures are primarily painless, children can still experience dental anxiety due to fear of pain. This fear of pain can stem from previous unpleasant dental experiences or horror stories told to them by other people.
• Fear of injections: A lot of children are scared of injections. That becomes even worse when they are injected into the gums or anywhere else around the mouth. They might also be scared of anesthesia not working and resulting in excruciating pain.
• Fear of loss of control and panicking: Being in a dental chair can feel helpless and cause dental anxiety. It can also cause a child to panic when things are being put into their mouth.
• Fear of embarrassment: Children might be bullied or teased in school due to an apparent dental defect or disease like decayed teeth, discolored teeth, deformed teeth, etc. That makes dental procedures very hard for them as they might feel self-conscious and embarrassed.
• Previous negative experience: If a dental procedure had gone wrong in the past, a child might be terrified to go for another. Every thought of dental procedures that such a child might have will be connected to the previously negative experience.

Signs And Symptoms Of Dental Anxiety

The following are signs that you will see in your child before you can decide to seek help for dental anxiety in Waco, TX:

• The child might experience trouble sleeping the night before the dental appointment.
• The child might show withdrawal signs by not speaking or interacting with anyone.
• The child might become aggressive or humourous in a bid to cover up their anxiety.
• The child might cry, have panic attacks, or faint.
• The child might show signs of nervousness.
• The child might experience heart palpitations, low blood pressure, and have racing heartbeats.
• Bruxism (teeth clenching or grinding).

Dental Anxiety Treatment

Dental anxiety, if left untreated, can degenerate and become dental phobia which would require a dental phobia dentist near you to take care of. However, you can treat dental anxiety through the following ways:

• Build a trusting relationship between your child and the dentist. At Hillcrest Dental Care, some dental professionals can manage your child’s specific needs.
• Explain everything your child needs to know about the dental procedure they are going for. Also, answer all questions about the procedure.
• Let the child bring whatever comforts them to the dental appointment—e.g., toys, etc.
• Be available throughout the procedure and let your child be aware of your presence.
• Give positive rewards and appraisal when due.
• Try to distract the attention of the child with music, etc.