Straight Teeth in Less Time
Helping A Non-Verbal Child Communicate With A Dentist
Lois Murray
There are a number of reasons why a child may be non-verbal. Some children have issues with speaking while others may have autism or Aspergers that causes delayed verbal interactions. Other children also have issues with being verbal because of shyness. No matter the reason that your child is non-verbal, it is necessary to provide them with effective methods of communication. If your non-verbal child is going to the dentist, they must have some way to notify the staff of pain, discomfort, and any other issues. Here are some ways to help your non-verbal child communicate at the dentist.
Show your child a dental video
To help your child understand what will happen at the dentist, show them a video demonstration of the services they will be receiving. This can help to prepare your child for what they will need to do and make them less anxious about what will happen. Answer any questions that your child may have about their services before they arrive. If your child is still nervous at their dental check up, volunteer to go first, so that they can see you go through it and notice how calm you seem to be during your dental check up.
Give them pain cards
One of the biggest fears that children and adults have is the possible pain that comes along with a dental visit. Provide your child with four cue cards for their dental visit. One card should say no pain. The second card should say mild discomfort. The third card should have discomfort written on it, while the fourth card should state very painful. If your child is younger or has issues with reading the four cards can have a smiley face, a slight smile, a sad face, and crying face, in that order. Teach your child to hold these up to correspond with their feelings during the dental visit. This will help your child feel a little more safe and empowered.
Talk to the dentist about using body motions
If your child is having issues with using and understanding verbal cues at times, speak with their dentist and hygienist before the service. Let the dental staff know that using hand motions or demonstrating what they need your child to do may make the service easier for everyone. By gesturing or demonstrating how wide or how closed the dentist needs their mouth to be, your child can mimic what they see without verbal cues needed.
For more information, contact local professionals likePersona Dental.
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I had braces when I was a kid. Back then, you had to wear those metal wires and rubber bands for what seemed like forever. When I saw that my child’s teeth were going to be crooked like mine, I was dreading the years of braces and orthodontist appointments and limited diets that I saw stretching ahead of us. I was pleased to find out that braces today are very different from braces when I was a kid. They don’t need to be worn for nearly as long, and they aren’t as intrusive, either. My daughter got braces that can barely be seen, and she can remove them when she eats, so she doesn’t have to give up her favorite foods. I was so impressed that I started a blog to talk about modern day tooth straightening techniques. Braces have come a long way.