Preparing an ADHD Child for the Dentist

I have three wonderful boys, one of which has ADHD. My middle son was diagnosed with ADHD during his Kindergarten year in school but I had always suspected that he had it. Having ADHD can make things more difficult at times. For example, the dentist. Now the dentist is not fun for any child but when you add ADHD into the equation, it can become even more difficult. The sounds, the smells, just everything can be more heightened to an ADHD child and can scare them and they may act out even more.

When it came to taking my son to the dentist, I dreaded it because I knew that it would affect him more then my non ADHD child. So before our trip to the dentist, I took a few steps to prepare him, from picking a kid friendly dentist that he would feel comfortable at to talking about it with him in the days before the appointment. This article will give you a few tips on how you can prepare your ADHD child for the dentist.

#1: Pick Kid Friendly Dentist

Your child will feel more at ease at a kid friendly dentist then one that is geared only for adults. Kid friendly dentists usually have offices that are made for kids. The one that my children go to has game consoles in the waiting room along with comfortable padded seating that is in bright colors. They also have a large TV playing kids movies at all times. You should also ask the dentist if they are used to have kids with ADHD as patients. They may offer special times to come in or services.

#2: Ask for a Tour

Call up the dentist that you are going to take your child too, explain that they have ADHD and that you want to see if they could have a quick tour of the facility, before or after they open if they will not let you go during the day. Your ADHD child may feel more at ease by seeing what the dentist's office is like behind their reception area and while they may not be happy with going to the dentist, they will know what it looks like back there.

#3: Accompany a Friend or Sibling to the Dentist

I wanted my son to see what kinds of stuff that his older brother would go through at the dentist so when my oldest son had an appointment, I brought my middle son with me. He got to see his brother's teeth be x-rayed, cleaned and checked. It made it less scary to him that not everything at the dentist is going to hurt.

#4: Talk to Your Child

ADHD kids have a shorter attention span so try to have a short talk with them, every day, up to the day of their dentist appointment. Let them know what they might expect, etc. Don't make it sound scary but let them know that it is just something we have to do, to take care of our teeth. It also helps to have visual aids so seek out books about kids going to the dentist to share with your child.

#5: Bring a Favorite Item

If your child has a favorite stuffed animal, book or toy, let them bring it with them. Having something that they love can offer them comfort while they are at the dentist. If they are not allowed to have the item in the room they are getting work done at, assure them that you'll take good care of it and that it will be waiting for them as soon as they get out.