SHOULD I TAKE MY CHILD TO A PEDIATRIC DENTIST?

As a caring parent, you might wonder whether you should take your child to a pediatric dentist. The short answer to that question is “Yes.” Children are not merely miniature adults. They have their own distinctive health needs—including dental needs—as they develop.

PEDIATRIC DENTIST TRAINING

Pediatric dentists provide oral care to infants, children, teens, and children with special needs. They receive extra training, including a two-year residency, that prepares them to deliver the following benefits to your family:

• As the primary (first) teeth emerge in infants during the first two years, preventive care should be started. This includes making sure that appropriate fluoridation is provided (especially important for families who live in areas where fluoride is not present in the water supply) to prevent cavities.
• Pediatric dentists also diagnose developmental problems early, offer advice about use of pacifiers or habitual thumb sucking, and help children avoid fearing the dentist.
• For older children, pediatric dentists treat cavities, tooth defects, gum disease, and dental injuries.
• Because of their special training, pediatric dentists ensure early attention to straightening teeth and correcting bite alignment (orthodontia).
• Pediatric dentists also help manage dental complications resulting from special conditions such as diabetes, congenital heart defects, asthma and ADHD.

CHILDREN’S DENTAL HEALTH

Cavities in children’s primary teeth are significant and often lead to dental problems as adults. Treating cavities in children frequently requires sedation. If your child needs sedation during treatment, perhaps for cavities or an injury, or is highly anxious, you should seriously consider seeing a pediatric dentist who is well trained and experienced to handle such situations.

If your child is under 4 years of age, parents you should accompany him or her into the examining room. Thereafter, it might be better for you to remain in the waiting room. It is always a good idea to discuss this in advance with your dentist.

Feel free to ask questions before or after treatment. During treatment, however, you should avoid distracting the dentist since he or she needs to concentrate on both the procedure and the reaction of your child.

Still have questions? Feel free to speak with us at 866-645-0111 or to make an appointment for a free consultation for your child.