Did you grow up being afraid of the dentist? Are you still afraid of going to your dentist, even a little bit? Well, a study out of Finland shows that conquering dental fear is most effective when the patient is a child.
Dental fear in childhood V.S. later in life study
According to a recent study from the University of Oulu in Finland, treating your children’s fear of the dentist early in their life helps to promote regular dental exams later in their life.
Did you know that half of the adults today are at least partially afraid of dental care and 10% of adults are terrified of their dentist? One of the reasons for this fear is treatment avoidance, which will lead to worse oral health and more painful dental treatments later on in life.
A study was done at the Clinic for Fearful Dental Patients (CFDP) that investigated the long-term effects of dental fear treatment. This included whether or not patients would visit their dental clinic after their treatment, and observed over 10 years, how often the 152 patients would go for follow-up treatment.
According to Taina Kankaala, the head researcher of this study, “The low-threshold treatment of dental fear in primary health care in conjunction with the dental care of the patient has only been studied to a limited extent. A study on long-term effects has not been published before.”
The main findings of the study concluded that children between the ages of 2-10 that were treated responded more favorably (higher number of dental exams) than patients treated later on in life. It was also found that patients that received treatment at the clinic had a more positive response to primary health care visits later in life as well.
Why Sbenati Dentistry is a great pediatric dentist in London, Ontario?
Kids love Sbenati Dentistry
At Sbenati Dentistry we want to identify and help our patients that suffer from dental fear early on in life by helping you pick an awesome pediatric or family dentist in London Ontario. If dental fear is not addressed, it can become severe and it is dangerous to think that your kids will grow out of it as they age.
Many children have high levels of stress or fear associated with seeing their dentist. Therefore, it is very important to pick a pediatric dentist who understands the differences between children and adult dental needs. Dr. Halim Sbenati knows how to detect gum problems early on, promote great oral hygiene for your kids, and how to keep their mouth healthy for their adult teeth to come in so they can avoid painful dental procedures. Did you know that your kid’s teeth start to grow before they are even born? It is very important to find a dentist that understands how your kid’s teeth are different from adult teeth.
Why is a pediatric dentist important for your children?
When it comes to dental care for children, a pediatric dentist is very similar to a medical pediatrician that you’d want for your children. They’re specialists who provide extensive primary dental care for children of all ages.
At Sbenati Dentistry we use behaviour management techniques that can help your child’s anxiety when visiting our dental office. We will make sure that your children’s teeth are growing normally and that their gums stay healthy. Dr, Sbenati is also highly trained to care for your child and their teeth in stressful dental emergencies that could be disastrous if not managed properly so your children feel as calm as possible.
Conclusion
If you are afraid of the dentist or you’re worried about your kids being afraid of the dentist or having dental anxiety, Sbenati Dentistry is here for you.
If you would like to ask our dental clinic in London, Ontario, any questions or schedule an appointment you can use our Request An Appointment form, email us at Info@sbenatidentistry.ca, or call at (519)-474-0220. We would love to meet you.
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