Why Your Child Needs a Pediatric Dentist

A pediatric dentist has the training and experience needed to give your child the highest level of dental care possible. Kids are more than just smaller adults; their bodies are still developing and growing, so they have unique needs.

Also known as pedodontists, pediatric dentists are the dental equivalent of pediatricians. These are dentists with additional training in preventing, diagnosing, and treating dental issues that affect children. They are also trained to handle children’s unique needs, including special needs.

A pediatric dentist has an additional two to three years of training after dental school that focuses on the unique needs of children and the development of their mouths and facial features. They are also trained in child behavior as well, allowing them to customize their approach and techniques for children from birth to adolescence.

Some of the ways pediatric dentists protect children’s dental health include:

• Performs pediatric dental checkups that allow developing issues to be detected early while they are still easy to fix
• Provides preventative dental care like dental cleanings, dental sealants, and comprehensive exams to protect a child’s teeth and gums
• Performs treatments for common dental issues like tooth decay, gum disease, and dental injuries
• Provides dental care for children with special needs
• Educate parents and kids on how to build excellent dental hygiene routines at home and address bad habits like prolonged pacifier use and thumb sucking
• Provides dental sedation for restless or anxious children

Reasons to take your child to a pediatric dentist

Some of the reasons why pediatric dentists provide a higher level of care for children include:

1. Kid-friendly environment

Pediatric dentists mostly deal with children, so their practices are customized for them. This creates an environment that is more relaxing for children than conventional dental cleanings. Every aspect of a pediatric dentist's practice is designed with children in mind, from bright walls that might feature popular cartoon characters, games, and books to keep children entertained to prizes that help build positive memories at the clinic.

Even the tools used by pedodontists are customized for children and their small mouths. They are typically smaller, more colorful, and less intimidating than the dental tools you would see in a regular clinic.

2. More experienced with children

Pediatric dentists and their staff spend most of their time working with children, and they also have additional training on how to communicate effectively with young patients. They use behavioral techniques like positive reinforcement and tell-show-do to keep children relaxed during their treatments so they can get the care they need. A pedodontist makes dental appointments enjoyable so children associate positive memories with going to the dentist. They also make dental appointments easier on parents since seeing a child fearful or anxious when getting dental care often stresses parents out.

3. Allows for the early detection of dental problems

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends taking children to their first dental visit before their first birthday or no more than six months after their first tooth erupts. These early visits provide an opportunity to detect any abnormalities in the development of the child’s teeth and gums.

A pediatric dentist has additional education on the development of children’s teeth and gums, allowing them to notice abnormalities other dentists might miss. Generally speaking, the earlier abnormalities in a child’s mouth are detected, the easier they are to treat.

4. Provides preventative care

A pedodontist provides preventative care that safeguards a child’s oral health, like teeth cleanings, dental sealants, and comprehensive examinations. These treatments are typically performed during routine dental appointments and significantly reduce a child’s risk of tooth decay – which is the most common dental issue children deal with.

Teeth cleanings involve using a scaler to remove plaque and tartar from teeth surfaces. It is the only way to remove tartar from teeth since brushing and flossing cannot get rid of it. Dental sealants protect teeth from decay by providing a barrier that prevents acids made by oral bacteria from damaging them. Comprehensive exams allow for the early detection of issues so they can be treated before causing significant damage.

5. Educates children and parents on oral hygiene

One of the roles of a pedodontist is to educate children and their parents on how to take proper care of their mouths. This includes going over proper brushing and flossing techniques, educating parents about foods that help promote good dental health, and helping families to establish good dental hygiene routines.

Your child deserves the best level of care

Pediatric dentists have additional training that allows them to tailor dental care to your child’s specific needs. Call or stop by our Middletown clinic to set up an appointment.

Request an appointment here: https://www.hvkidsmiles.com or call Hudson Valley Pediatric Dentistry at (845) 363-4177 for an appointment in our Middletown office.

Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Pediatric Dentist in Middletown, NY.