What causes a kid to be scared to go to the dentist?

Keep a positive attitude when discussing an upcoming visit, but don't give your child false hope. "Avoid saying that everything will be fine, because if you child ends up needing a treatment, he might lose trust in both the dentist and you," says Joel H. Berg, D.D.S., M.S. read more

Taking kids to the dentist is necessary to keep their teeth healthy and promote excellent oral hygiene habits. But from a child's point of view, a trip to the dentist can be a scary event -- lying on a chair in an unfamiliar room filled with unfamiliar noises and objects, all while a stranger is poking cold, metallic, and unusual instruments in his mouth. read more

“If their parents are afraid of the dentist, most likely the child will grow up with similar fear,” continues Dr. Blalock. It’s simple: Children internalize their parents’ anxieties. And there are adults out there who are scared out of their wits of the dentist. This is evident in online forums. read more