Latest News

Children’s Dental Health Month

Visiting the dentist can be a very scary and confusing experience for children. At Sonria we are very child friendly, have lots of experience in treating children and are big kids at heart !! We also make it very easy for you and your child to maintain good dental health and stress free appointments through our tried and tested techniques. We will work together with you to prepare your child for that all important first visit.

Here are some of the things that we can do together to help you child feel comfortable and secure during their first and future dental visits.

Building Trust Between Your Child & Their Dentist – A Guide for Parents

Things you can do before the visit

Prepare them in advance: Explain what will happen at the dentist in simple, age-appropriate terms. Use positive language and emphasise the importance of dental care using colourful images and your own teeth and dental care routine if necessary.

Take little steps: If you are able to, we suggest you schedule a short, introductory visit to let your child meet us and explore the clinic without any procedures. If you are an existing patient, perhaps bring them with you on one of your visits.

During the visit

We pride ourselves on having a very welcoming atmosphere and gentle approach in all we do – including our touch. This makes a big difference.

1. We encourage open communication: We let kids ask questions and express their feelings. Listening to their concerns helps them feel heard and understood.
2. We use non-threatening language, avoiding scary terms like “”drill”” or “”pain,”” and instead focusing on positive descriptions of the tools and procedures.
3. Together you and our team will offer your child lots of reassurance: You can help by comforting them with hugs, hand-holding, or calming words if they feel anxious. There are occasions where we may recommend you leave the room – for instance if your child has special needs such as autism and it feels to us as if you not being present may result in a different behaviour that could lead to a more positive outcome. We have found this approach very successful for older children or young adults with special needs.
4. We love to Involve them in the process, letting them observe our tools, choosing a toothbrush, or picking a flavour of toothpaste they like to give them a sense of control.
5. We practice patient guided gentle dentistry. This means that we are highly atuned to the needs of our patients regardless of age. We use specially adapted techniques to give our young patients more control and a lighter touch that even includes fun things to do. By gentle dentistry we mean that at every possible opportunity we avoid anything that is unnecessarily painful, abrasive and consider every detail even down to the water temperature when applying water to teeth that may be sensitive.
6. We always praise and reward their bravery. You can help by acknowledging and celebrating their courage after each visit to reinforce positive experiences.

After the visit

Maintain consistency and be a positive role model: Regular dental check-ups and a consistent routine can build trust and familiarity over time. Share your own positive dental experiences to show kids that going to the dentist is a normal, beneficial part of life.

Here at Sonria we treat our patients as if they are family so please rest assured that you and your child are in the vest best of hands.

Posted on 03 February 2026 by Sonria Dental Clinic