In the past, a trip to the dentist was an unpleasant experience for many kids. But, with advances in technology and new techniques that make dental work less painful and more comfortable, this is no longer true. Many parents are now opting to take their children to pediatric dentists. The reason is they offer something that general dentists can’t. Not only is it a family-friendly environment where kids have fun while receiving quality care. There’s more to it than that though.
Pediatric dentists are different from your regular family dentist. They have additional schooling, training, and residency over a general dentist. This additional schooling helps them provide better care for kids, teens, and even special needs children.
A pediatric dentist is one of the first health care providers a child should see. They are especially important for kids who have special needs or those with severe tooth decay. These children will need more specialized dental treatments than those offered by your average family practitioner.
Parents with younger children might want to consider seeing a pediatric dentist regularly. This will help them treat their children and help them navigate through the difficult and important developing years.
In addition to treating children with tooth decay or cavities, pediatric dentists also offer preventative care. This includes a regular cleaning and examination of teeth. In addition to tips on how to maintain oral health at home while preventing anything from happening in the first place.
What does a pediatric dentist focus on?
Pediatric dentists focus on caring for children’s teeth and gums throughout the different stages of childhood. The dental care includes:
- Examinations
- Preventive pediatric dentistry (such as cleanings and fluoride treatments)
- Filling cavities and checking for gum disease
- Dental injuries (like getting a tooth knocked-out)
- What sort of diet should to follow
- Healthy habits (brushing tips and how to deal with thumb sucking)
- Parents and children can be alerted of potential oral health issues that might not otherwise have been known.
Pediatric dentists have the expertise to provide children with the best experience possible so they can relax. Pediatric dentists offer children a calm and comforting environment. Typical pediatric dentistry offices may include:
- Fun office themes like sharks, trains, or video games and movies.
- A kid friendly staff that is accustomed to and enthusiastic about working with children.
- Dental tools that are the right size for smaller mouths.
- A Comfortable environment that is meant to lower anxiety and make children more at ease.
A pediatric dentist will know more about the needs of a child and be able to offer advice on what is best for their oral health. One of the benefits to visiting a pediatric dentist is their knowledge about how different age groups. Not all children have the same needs. Kids under 10 will often have different needs then teenagers.
The bottom line: visiting a pediatric dentist offers many benefits that are unique to kids and will help them get dental care that is specific to their needs and particular stage of life.
How do I find a good one near me?
There are several different ways to find a good pediatric dentist near you. First, ask a friend. Other parents can often give you a good recommendation based on their own personal experiences. Second, look online for reviews and see who is rated the highest and why? Third, try and see what kind of office they have. Some pediatric dentists have really gone out of their way to make a trip to the dentist an experience unlike any other with games, prizes, and other exciting themes.