3 yr old scared of the dentist-ideas?

In article ,
"Donna Metler" wrote:

DD's gone with me to the dentist to ride on the chair, look at her teeth,
and so on without any trouble. It's a family practice, and the dentist is a
mother of one of her occasional playmates (although she usually sees the
little girl with her Nanny due to mommy's work schedule). It's
child-friendly, and she especially seems to love the tooth models and one of
the hygenists.

However, we just got the reminder card for her appointment next month, and
Daddy showed it to her, thinking she'd like getting mail with her name on
it, and it had a totally different reaction than we expected. She's definite
that she DOES NOT want to go to the dentist-to the point of having
nightmares about it (she was crying and screaming about going to the dentist
this morning, while still asleep). She really seems scared, yet I can't
figure out what would have triggered it.

Ring the dentist -- they will have some suggestions. But sometimes it just
happens. DS1 has always been perfectly fine with going to the dentist, but
DS2 is perfectly fine right up until he's put in the chair for the dentist to
"count his teeth"... then he shoves both hands over his mouth and starts to
cry! Then he began to develop a problem -- there was a malformation of the
enamel on one tooth and I could see it starting to decay, but the little
monster still wouldn't cooperate with the dentist.

I was referred to a nearby paediatric practice which my dentist assured me was
the best in Sydney. Well, we went there, and it had the same positive
atmosphere as our regular practice, just groovier colours! And DS2 was fine
right until he saw the dentist's chair! Hands over mouth and howls again!

The specialist had a chat with him but he continued to howl. So we forced the
issue: DS2 sat on my lap, facing me, and he was then laid back onto the
specialist's knees while I held his hands. The dentist was able to work but
DS2 could see me the whole time and he wasn't in the chair at all. At the end
(and it was all of two minutes' work), DS2 was happy to shake the specialist's
hand and take a souvenir toy. The specialist said he felt that it was OK to
force things in DS2's case because DS2 wasn't actually very scared: this
practice specialises in children who have been traumatised by other dentists
(or, I suppose, other experiences), and who can be almost catatonic with
terror. With them, they must go very slowly indeed.

Obviously, this specialist made a professional judgement that went along with
my feeling about DS2. I suspect, though I could be wrong, that DS2 might be
perfectly fine the next time we go to the dentist -- but the specialist has
advised that DS2 not be asked to do anything next time except maybe have a
ride in the chair if he likes.

--
Chookie -- Sydney, Australia
(Replace "foulspambegone" with "optushome" to reply)

http://chookiesbackyard.blogspot.com/