Dr. Broom understands parents’ concerns about the fears their children possess in regard to receiving dental care. Many tell him they fear going to the dentist themselves and want things to be different for their own children. He and his staff employ a variety of methods to ensure that goal is realized.

The office environment a child enters into plays a big part in either contributing to or reducing anxiety. When children are at ease with their surroundings they tend to adopt a more relaxed attitude. Dr. Broom’s office has been designed especially for children. They will feel right at home with the open atmosphere, cheerful colors and Noah’s Ark theme. An entertaining computer based video presentation featuring animals as the actors is used to educate and motivate children to brush and floss properly and to prepare them for certain dental procedures.

Communicating with children on their level is one of the most important ways to reduce their fears. Dr. Broom and his staff are excellent communicators with children. They have a great deal of experience at it because it’s what they do all day long. They constantly apply a technique known as “Tell – Show – Do”. They tell the child what they are going to do in terms they can easily understand. Then they demonstrate it to them. Then they do it. The technique is as effective as it is simple but it is frequently ignored because it takes a little extra time. Children can’t be rushed and should be given the time they deserve.

If cavities develop and Dr. Broom has to provide dental treatment, nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, can be used to relax the child. This mild, odorless gas is breathed through a small nosepiece while the child remains awake and able to communicate throughout the dental treatment. It is a very safe and effective technique.

Conscious sedation is an excellent way to provide dental treatment to very young children, fearful children and children with numerous dental needs. A combination of liquid medications is taken by the child about an hour before Dr. Broom begins dental treatment. The medications are given to reduce fear and anxiety and may cause drowsiness or sleep but the child will remain conscious throughout the appointment. It is used along with nitrous oxide and is much more effective in providing relaxation than nitrous oxide alone.

In certain situations general anesthesia offers the best method to deliver dental care in a relaxing atmosphere. It is most often recommended for young children with extensive dental needs that would otherwise require multiple conscious sedation appointments. It is also recommended for very young children, children with medical conditions as well as children with special needs. With the aid of general anesthesia the child is put to sleep by an anesthesiologist or anesthetist in a hospital or outpatient surgery center. Dr. Broom then provides all the necessary dental treatment while the child is asleep. After a short recovery period the child returns home the same day. Dr. Broom is a member of the Department of Surgery at Memorial Hospital of Gulfport where he provides this service.

While all of these methods usually reduce fear and anxiety, some children may still exhibit apprehension regardless of the efforts made to put them at ease. When that is the case there is no substitute for the patience you constantly see exhibited by Dr. Broom and his staff. When other options are ineffective, demonstrating patience to a child eventually wins out. Nothing brings more joy to Dr. Broom and his staff than seeing frightened children replace their fears with confidence and their frowns with smiles.