Behavior Guidance for Kids in Twinsburg, OH
What is Behavior Guidance in Pediatric Dentistry?
If your child feels nervous about dental visits, you are not alone. Behavior guidance for kids is a set of child-centered techniques that our board-certified pediatric dentist uses to help children feel safe, cooperative, and confident during visits. At Great Beginnings Pediatric Dentistry in Twinsburg, Ohio, supporting the whole-child is at the heart of all we do.
Recommended by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, behavior guidance goes far beyond distraction. It is a clinical approach rooted in child psychology, communication, and trust-building, and our entire GBPD team is trained in its best practices. Parents across Northeast Ohio bring their children to GBPD because Dr. Rachel Rosen and team meet kids where they are while keeping dental appointments fun and educational.
Tell – Show – Do (TSD)
Dr. Rachel and her Great Beginnings team members use TSD with each child during their dental experience. With this technique, dental team members first tell the patient what is going to be done with appropriate kid-friendly language. Next, they demonstrate the procedure to the child on a model or on their finger. Finally, they do the procedure, completing the work in the child’s mouth. Removing the element surprise also removes much of the anxiety.
Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas)
For children who need extra support relaxing, nitrous oxide (laughing gas) is an in-office sedation option. Nitrous oxide is a mild gas, mixed with oxygen with minimal side effects. It helps our patients relax during their dental visits, with many kids saying it makes them feel happy or floaty. The effects of laughing gas wear off quickly, so at the end of the appointment, your child is back to themselves, ready to return to school and other activities.
Age-Appropriate Vocabulary
Choosing words carefully helps children understand what to expect without all the fear. Instead of a cavity, it’s a “dirty spot.” Similarly, the nitrous oxide mask is a “happy nose,” x-rays are “pictures.” These non-threating words allow your child to understand what we’re doing without scaring them in the process. The GBPD team understands how to meet kids where they are with language that is both informative and empowering to encourage cooperation.
One Clear Voice, One Calm Kid
When too many people talk at once, most of us feel overwhelmed. For children, hearing different instructions from different adults can quickly create confusion and increase anxiety. We ask caregivers to let the GBPD team take the lead during dental visits as the one, clear voice. You are right there with them, holding their had, reassuring them you are close, and celebrating their bravery when it’s all done.
We Emphasize the Positive.
No matter what struggles a child may face during a dental visit, our team emphasizes the positive. We point out their successes and encourage them along the way. Each visit ends on a high note with a trip to the toy tower. This type of emotional support is essential to helping children build confidence and look forward to dental visits.
Partnering with Caregivers
No one knows your child like you do. Dr. Rachel and team believe that the best health outcomes occur when providers and caregivers work together to create an individualized plan for each child, so their unique needs can be met and strengths harnessed. To achieve this goal, we ask a lot of questions in our intake process, and we encourage caregivers to ask theirs, too. Your insights and observations provide important information to enable us to treat the whole child while in our care.
Why Northeast Ohio Families Trust Great Beginnings Pediatric Dentistry
Recognized as a Top Dentist in Cleveland OH
Voted a Parent Choice Awards Winner for Best Children's Dentist
We Want Your Child to Love Dental Visits
That’s why at our specialized pediatric dental office on the border of Twinsburg and Solon, OH, we’ve designed our entire practice around a child’s comfort and needs. From the artwork to our open hygiene bay area, to screens over every chair to our tell-show-do approach, every aspect of our office works to help reduce your child’s dental anxiety and make a visit to the dentist educational and fun.
