My almost 3-year-old son’s first visit to the dentist just after he turned 1 was a fairly smooth appointment, but it was his second appointment six months later that more clearly stands out. He was excited to be there, happily climbed into the chair, and when his dentist walked in from the adjacent operatory he greeted her with a huge smile and an excited wave.
She comments on this every time we come back. Sure, other appointments haven’t always been that joyous, but he doesn’t fight the concept of visiting the dentist, and the biggest issues are really the discomfort of a cleaning and finding a flavor of prophy paste to his liking. I’ve been the one to take him to every appointment, and I’ve always made the trips out to be something special, never a dreaded obligation.
New data shows I’m doing something right by setting this positive example while establishing my son’s dental habits. A recently published study from scientists at the Rey Juan Carlos University of Madrid highlights the associations between parents’ fears of the dentist and those of their children. The research not only points out that if parents are afraid of the dentist, then their children will be as well, but also that fathers play a key role in the transmission of these fears between generations.
Even before this study was published I knew it was essential for me to teach my son the importance of caring for his teeth and regularly seeing a dentist. Of course, I’m not the typical dental consumer. Spending my professional time immersed in dental news, I’m more aware than most parents of the importance of starting a child’s dental habits and dental visits early.
Many friends and family members thought I was ridiculous for taking my son to the dentist right after his first birthday, despite that being the recommendation of pediatric dentists. I’ve stressed the importance to them, but they have their own fears of the dentist working against their children’s dental health.
Again, I’m lucky enough to know better. I’m aware of all the advances in dental technologies, materials treatments and even practice designs that can provide a calmer, less invasive, less painful and in the end far less frightening dental experience. Today’s dentistry does not need to be the uncomfortable experiences of a generation ago, and it’s important to help adult patients understand and get past their own fears, so they don’t pass those fears along to the next generation.
The more dental professionals who provide comfortable care that eases and dispels patients’ fears, the more advocates there will be to pass those sentiments along to the next generation. With dental anxieties passed down from parent to child, one generation breaking the cycle of fear can make a huge difference for the next one.