Sedation Alternative-Anxiety Reduction Dental Appointments Portland
Changing the Way Kids Feel About Dentistry
Dr. Pike Dentistry for Children is proud to offer Anxiety Reduction Appointments for young patients who are scared of the dentist, whether it’s due to a bad experience in the past or something that left a negative impression in their mind.
This appointment follows a strict and proven protocol that has been researched, refined, and documented for several years. To date, we have conducted over 1,600 Anxiety Reduction Appointments, but what are the results? Talking to both kids and parents afterward, 91% describe a significant reduction in fear and nerves associated with dental care. An added benefit is that we did not need to sedate 90% of our “overly cautious” kids, making visits more straightforward and convenient.
How Anxiety Reduction Dental Appointments Work
This method is built using five basic pillars, all of which are applied using flexible techniques that can be tweaked according to a child’s needs and personality. Every member of our team is trained on how to apply these in a wide variety of situations:
- Mindset: Our team is fully committed to ensuring your child stays calm and happy.
- Observe: We keep an eye on a child and parent’s body language so we can notice any signs of stress and react proactively.
- Desensitize: Slowly and gently, we introduce different elements of dentistry to familiarize and desensitize your child so they form a fresh association with our office.
- Empower: Every child is given the power to pause the appointment at any time, ensuring they feel in control and safe. All they have to do is raise their left hand!
- Communication: Both the child and parent are told explicitly that they are in charge and that nothing will happen without their approval.