If your child has ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), getting their teeth checked or their dental conditions treated by a dentist might be difficult. If this is a problem you are struggling with, here are some tips that you may want to keep in mind.
Take them to a playground or an activity centre before their appointment
One of the symptoms of ADHD in children is an inability to sit still for extended periods of time. This can make dental appointments difficult. You may, for example, find that after being seated in the chair at the dental clinic, your child starts to fidget and refuses to sit still for long enough for the dentist to examine their teeth.
Their inability to remain motionless may also make it their dentist hesitant to perform dental work that involves sharp implements or dental drills, as using these potentially hazardous items on a person that will not stay still could lead to that person being hurt.
One way to reduce the intensity of your child's fidgeting and general restlessness during their dental appointments is to take them to a playground or a children's activity centre before their appointment. Whilst you're at this facility, encourage them to be as physically active as possible.
Giving them an opportunity to expend their energy in this manner should leave them feeling less restless and hyper when they arrive at the clinic. This, in turn, should make it easier for their dentist to examine their teeth and perform any treatments that they require.
Try to have their appointment take place when the dental clinic is not busy
It is also worth arranging for the dentist to see your child during a period of the day when the dental clinic is at its quietest. The reason for this is that children with ADHD are very affected by their surroundings and tend to become extremely unfocused and talkative if they are in a busy environment where there are a lot of different things going on at once.
If the appointment takes place at a time when the waiting room is heaving with other patients and is, therefore, noisy and bustling, this may result in your children finding it even harder to remain calm and quiet during the appointment. They may, for example, end up talking non-stop, to the point where the dentist cannot use their dental instruments to check their teeth.
Conversely, if the clinic is quiet and empty during the time when your child is there, the chances of them being able to avoid disrupting their dental treatment by chatting or fidgeting will be much higher.
For many years, I hated the way my teeth looked. They always looked discoloured so I would do everything I could to hide my smile. On family photos, my mom would always complain that I never gave a grin like my brothers and sisters. When I graduated college, I decided I needed to take action. I contacted my local dental surgery and asked them about tooth whitening treatments. The dentist was great and gave me all of the info I needed. After the treatment, my smile was like a million dollars. I decided to start this blog to educate others about the benefits of teeth whitening and other dental treatments.