What is Pediatric Dentistry?
Pediatric Dentistry is a subset of Dentistry where we only really treat children, so anyone below the age of 18 years old.
What is the difference between a pediatric dentist and a regular dentist?
The main difference between a pediatric dentist and a general dentist is that pediatric dentists specialize in only working with children. It could be an infant all the way up to about 17 years of age, and they only work with this group of patients. They are trained extra in this field to better help our kids and to treat them.
When should my child see a pediatric dentist?
Your child should see a pediatric dentist as soon as they start to grow their teeth. It could be a few months, and as you start to see their teeth develop, it'll just be good to get checkups. They won't really do any treatment per se, but it's good to go over home care instructions with you as the parent and how to take care of your kid. As they develop, their teeth will start to grow in, and they can go over some questions that you might have.
What are the benefits of seeing a pediatric dentist early?
Some of the benefits of seeing a pediatric dentist early include catching cavities that may be brewing, and we want to try to stop those as soon as possible. If your children have any trauma to their teeth and there are any changes that could affect their adult teeth, these are all things we want to try to catch early on through X-rays and clinical examinations.
What are the types of treatments pediatric dentists provide?
Some of the treatments that pediatric dentists provide include sedation. If your child might have some anxiety, they do have options for sedation. For restorative work, they can do fillings, crowns, and extractions. Anything that is necessary for treating baby teeth as well as some adult teeth, they will definitely manage. If they need to do space maintainers, so if your child loses a tooth early, we want to sometimes hold that space for the permanent tooth. There's a wide variety of things that they can offer you.
Can a pediatric dentist help my child develop a better dental hygiene routine at home?
A pediatric dentist definitely can help encourage your child to develop healthy oral hygiene habits early on. I recommend the sooner you bring them into the office, the better. They get more comfortable being in the dental chair, they develop less anxiety. We want to have these positive reinforcements early on, and the hygienist that sees them can really go over good brushing techniques, flossing, and it just becomes a really positive experience overall for them the sooner you bring them in.
How long do kids go to a pediatric dentist?
Kids can go to a pediatric dentist as long as they're still considered legally a child. If you are 17 and you still want to go to your pediatric dentist, that's fine. Most of the time, they might start transitioning teenagers to a regular general dentist, but they also work closely with orthodontists as well. If you have a teenager who is being treated for braces or orthodontics, you can still see your pediatric dentist, but usually after you turn 18, they will have you transition to a general dentist.
What should I look for in a pediatric dentist?
Some things to look for in a pediatric dentist include seeing how well your child behaves in the office that you choose. Hopefully, they get along with the pediatric dentist, the hygienist, and the assistants there. But honestly, that kind of comes down to personal preference and just making sure they are able to offer the services that your child needs.
Are pediatric dentists trained to accommodate autism and special needs in children?
Most pediatric dentists do get extensive training in treating special needs children and children with autism. If you have children that qualify for these, then they should be able to accommodate you well.
How can I schedule a pediatric dental appointment for my child?
You can schedule a pediatric dental appointment for your child by simply Googling any pediatric dentist offices in your area. Some general dentists will see children as well, so if you can't find a pediatric dentist in your area, I encourage you to also look into general dentist offices and just simply give them a call to see if they are accepting new patients and if they also see children.
If you have a child that you would like to get established at our office, feel free to give us a call at (315) 630-3637.