In an effort to give your child a positive experience in our office,
we are selective in our use of words. We try to avoid words that
might worry the child due to previous experiences. Please support
us by not using negative words. Use positive words when talking about
your child’s appointment.
| Avoid using the following: | Our Equivalent: |
| Shot | Cold Sprayer or Sleepy Juice |
| Needle Medicine | Sprayer Tip |
| A Drill | A Whistle |
| Drill on Teeth | Clean a Tooth, Chase Away Sugar Bugs |
| Pull a Tooth | Wiggle a Tooth |
| Decay or Cavity | Sugar Bug or Tooth Bug |
| Examination | Count Teeth |
| Tooth Cleaning | Tickle the Teeth |
| Dental Pick | Tooth Counter or Dora the Explorer |
| Rubber Dam | Rain Coat |
| Gas | Magic Air or Laughing Air |
| Suction | Straw |
| Water/Air Sprayer | Squirt Gun |
This will also help you understand our terminology when using our behavior guidance technique of "tell, show, do" with your child during the appointment.
Our intention is not to "fool" the child, rather to create an experience that is positive. We appreciate your help!