Children Don’t Forget

Children are not born with fear of the dentist. A "learning process" has to take place to create this negative emotion.

Psychologists tell us that a traumatic experience during childhood may affect the way we feel and behave later in life. Nowhere is this truer than with visits to the dentist. The mouth is a very personal area and highly innervated.

As a dentist anesthesiologist, I have observed many fearful children who have had painful dental experiences. These experiences often lead them to have dental anxiety and to avoid the dentist. Many of these children will carry these fears well into their adult lives.

We also know that parents who have had a traumatic experience at the dentist may, knowingly or unknowingly, transmit their anxiety to their children.

We do not restrain children with Velcro straps and towels.

We do not try to charm our way through treatment using behavior modification.

We facilitate dental treatment by sedating and putting children to sleep.