Dr. Church in Indianapolis approaches pediatric dentistry with interactive education

Your child’s early experiences have a tremendous impact on how he or she feels about professional dental care throughout life. Dr. Matthew Church at Washington Street Dentistry in Indianapolis, makes pediatric dentistry a stepping stone for your little one’s lifetime of good oral health. He uses a gentle, interactive method to introduce the child to dental treatment and gain cooperation without tears, tantrums, or fear.

Managing behaviors . . . not just treating cavities

Successful pediatric dental care, of course, begins with a genuine affection for children. We enjoy all of our patients, but our office lights up with smiles and giggles when a tiny one walks through the door. We know that children have the same anxieties and feelings of helplessness that you and I experience, when faced with new situations, but they may react differently. Our techniques anticipate their behaviors and alleviate their fears so treatment goes smoothly. That gains your child’s willing participation in healthy, preventive habits, and allows dental treatment with minimal drama.

The Tell-Show-Do Method

This technique for winning over young patients dates back to 1959, but it is very flexible. We customize it to each child, and each situation. Basically it involves:

• Tell – A procedure is explained in age-appropriate words and ways that a child can understand.
• Show – We show the tools used, sometimes giving them fun names, and describing their purposes in non-threatening ways. The process is demonstrated, so the child knows what to expect visually, and how treatment will sound. We observe, listen, and answer questions along the way.
• Do – Once the child is comfortable with the idea of the procedure, we get right to work. We follow the process we’ve already described and demonstrated, so there are no surprises.

Educating children and caregivers

Parents have busy days and many responsibilities including teaching and modelling good oral hygiene. At each visit, we do our part to ease that burden with information and reminders to help your child avoid cavities and enjoy the benefits of oral wellness. We talk about daily hygiene, nutrition, and wearing sports protection. When the child gets older, we may discuss lifestyle decisions such as peer pressure to do things that impact oral health (smoking or using drugs).

You can count on the Washington Street Dentistry team as your partner in oral health – from baby’s first visit to the day when he or she becomes a grandparent. Call (317) 333-6788 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Church.

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