Pediatric Dental Terms
As we strive to create a positive experience for your child in our office, we are selective in our use of words. We try to avoid words that might frighten or worry your child. Please support us by NOT using the scary words, and not correcting your child if they choose to use our equivalents.
| AVOID | OUR EQUIVALENT |
|---|---|
| needle or shot | sprayer, sleep juice or sleepy drops |
| drill (high speed or low speed) | whistle brush or Mr. Bumpy |
| drill on teeth | wash/clean the sugar bugs out |
| pull or yank a tooth | wiggle a tooth out |
| ADULT TERMS | PEDIATRIC EQUIVALENT |
|---|---|
| decay or cavity | sugar bug hole |
| examination | count teeth |
| tooth cleaning or prophy | tickle teeth |
| explorer or dental pick | tooth counter |
| rubber dam | raincoat |
| nitrous oxide or gas | magic/happy air |
| suction | vacuum, straw or Mr. Thirsty |
| water/air sprayer | squirt gun |
| mouth prop | tooth chair/pillow |
Our intent is not to FOOL your child, but to use words that help us create a positive experience. As your child matures and grows in confidence, we will adjust our word choice to reflect that growth. We appreciate your cooperation in helping us build a good attitude for your child!