Parents spend a lot of time searching for the right pediatrician to care for their child’s health. When looking for the right dentist for your child, we suggest finding a pediatric dentist to care for their oral health. Here’s why parents should choose a pediatric dentist – rather than a general dentist.
Extensive Training – Just for Children’s Teeth
Pediatric dentists have had 2-3 years of special training to care for young children and adolescents, as well as those with special health care needs. Children encounter some oral health problems that adults don’t face, and a pediatric dentist can address and treat a variety of oral ailments specific to children. Moreover, pediatric dentists are trained to care for emotional or psychiatric concerns during a dental visit, and are experts in pediatric behavior management.
From early childhood carries, to developing a healthy adult smile, pediatric dentists are trained to care for young teeth, and help kids learn how to care for their teeth into adulthood.
Expert Guidance for Parents
Parents need the best information possible to help their children earn a healthy smile, and pediatric dentists are fantastic resources! Pediatric dentists are trained in early growth and development of the teeth, and teach parents what they need to know to maintain their children’s teeth at home.
Pediatric dentists are experts in preventive care, which can help lessen the need for more lengthy, expensive and uncomfortable orthodontic care in the future. This also helps children grow up with cavity-free teeth, and fewer concerns about oral health care problems.
Comfortable Care
Taking your child to the doctor or dentist can be a stressful, anxious experience – especially for young children. Pediatric dentists understand this, and do their best to provide oral care for children in comfortable environments. Most pediatric dental practices have special offices that cater to children, and allow them to have some fun while visiting the dentist. Pediatric dentists almost always offer a stress-free first visit where your child will simply meet the dentist, dental team and walk around the office to get more comfortable with the idea of oral health care. Caring for children in a comfortable environment is one of the most powerful – and sometimes overlooked – ways that pediatric dentists help children embrace oral health care.
Oral Health Guidance for New Moms
New moms have a lot of new information to manage, and it can be tough to make an informed decision about an infant’s health care needs. But, pediatric dentists take the guesswork out of oral health care for new moms, and can help parents keep their infant’s mouth healthy. Most pediatric dentists see infants around the 6 – 8 month mark, but oral health care begins far before then. A pediatric dentist will be able to provide new parents with a roadmap to better oral health for their baby and teach them about what to expect as their child’s mouth matures.
Do You Have a Pediatric Dentist?
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Dental Association (ADA), and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) all recommend establishing a “Dental Home” for your child by one year of age, or when their first tooth erupts. Parents can use our Pediatric Dentist locator tool to find a pediatric dentist near them, and help their family achieve oral health success with the help of a pediatric dentist.