My daughter loves our dentist but is scared when he does a procedure on her. he helps her relax but once he starts she flips. what can we do to help?

Talk with her: Fear is common in dental procedures and children will pick up on their parents fears and comments about dental treatment. It is important that you prepare her before the appointment so she goes in confident. You did not say how old yor daughter is and the approach will differ with age. Some kids will do much better with nitrous oxide ( gas) to make the procedure easier. Prevention is important.

Support her: Allow the dental staff the ability to manage the situation. They have the training to manage children. It makes it difficult sometimes when parents are in the room because the child does not know whom to listen to. If you are in the room you can help by stepping out. At home, be supportive of the dental team and give your child encouragement prior to the dental visit.

Sedation: If your child ever becomes combative she could do damage to herself or the dentist. Most pediatric dentists have the ability to sedate in-office which is a great option to give your child some good visits and some even better post-hypnotic suggestion! be sure to ask about your options.

Specialist: Please ask your dentist to refer her to a pediatric dental specialist who has 2+ years full-time training after dental school to help your daughter resolve her procedure issues. You'll be glad you did.