It is estimated that more than a third of people (36%) in the United States suffer from dental anxiety, with an additional 12% of people suffering from extreme dental fear. This anxiety can have a major impact on a person's oral health, given how it can serve as a barrier to making regular visits to a dentist.

There are many possible causes of dentophobia. For children, fear of the unknown, negative past experiences, and apprehension passed down by a parent or caregiver are possible causes. In order to make a child feel as comfortable as possible while visiting the dentist, pediatric dental office design plays a big role.

In this blog post, your expert team at Arminco Inc. will share the do's and don'ts of pediatric dental office design. Let's get started.

Do Make It Bright and Colorful

When designing a pediatric dental office, your guiding principles should be bright, colorful, and fun. This is in contrast to dental offices that are geared towards adults, which are typically more laid-back and relaxed in their style.

For dental offices catering to children, the environment should be welcoming for children, with an emphasis on color and fun. Bright colors and artistic murals on the walls can make children feel comfortable in this new setting. Rather than stiff chairs in the waiting room, you can add beanbags and a collection of toys for them to play with while waiting (toys will help to burn off some of that nervous energy!)

Don’t Forget About the Parents

When designing a pediatric dental office, you should be careful not to forget about the parents and caregivers. They should be able to have a comfortable experience each time they accompany their child to the dentist, too.

Beverage stations, device-charging options, fast Wi-Fi, comfortable seating, and technology such as TVs all help to make their waiting around time more pleasant.

It's also important that parents know that their children are safe at all times. So, if you do set up a play area in the waiting room, be sure to put an emphasis on safety.

Do Utilize Technology

It's a good design idea to install a TV in the procedure room so that the children have something to distract them and keep them calm.

Whether the child is undergoing a routine cleaning, getting a cavity filled, or any other type of procedure, they will certainly appreciate being able to watch something entertaining on TV. Passing the time in an entertaining way is going to make the overall experience far more pleasant for the child.

Practical Tips for Pediatric Dental Office Design

Creating positive dental experiences at a young age is key to helping children develop a lifetime of good oral health routines. The above tips will help your business to craft a pediatric dental office design that works for everyone.

Arminco Inc is the leader in pediatric office design in Virginia. Contact us today to learn more.