Neurolinguistic Programing is the science and art of channeling right intent into right set of words in continuum, so that overall programming of the brain neurons gets modified.
There are common scenarios where children have had traumatic experience related to dental appointments, which now leaves them repulsive to any further dental treatments.
In these scenarios, its essential to break the pattern, provide empowering information and create a positive new experience that will then help the child re instilling positive dental attitude for lifetime.
Some of the suggested steps are as follows:
- Arranging a pre visit video call or phone call, so that child has face and voice to the name which brings in familiarity, thereby creating reassurance.
- What gets exchanged in that phone call regarding the next appointment is abided by 100%, so if I have informed and agreed with only checkup, then, that’s where the upcoming appointment gets concluded.
- When children know and believe that they are heard and they do have some sense of control over the proceedings of the appointment, they start to trust. And trust replaces fear.
In the language of child psychology, “Trust and fear do not live in the same pot.”
- Parent and pediatric dentist should work hand in hand to reinforce good rapport. All the behavioral modification steps should be discussed with the pediatric dentist during and prior to all biannual recare appointments and certainly prior to any treatment appointments.
A negative experience does leave an impression, but the same impression can be “Reframed” into positive when we are able to introduce series of positive experiences during the currently ongoing appointments. The science of NLP dives deep into the technique of “Reframing”, because it does add value to life’s experiences and gives us back our sense of control.