Dentistry, Should I take my child to a pediatric dentist?

There are different kinds of dentists. If you are looking for a dental health professional that knows how to coax your child to have their teeth and gums checked you should find a qualified and experienced pediatric dentist. Why not a general dentist or a family dentist? Although general and family dentists are also qualified to treat children, they are not as adept and as trained compared to pediatric dentists.

A pediatric dentist is a dental health practitioner that specializes in providing comprehensive dental care designed for children. Pediatric dentists treat a wide range of oral conditions in infants and adolescents. Some of the services they offer include routine cleaning, tooth extractions, and many more. The following are reasons why you need to take your children to a pediatric dentist:

#1. Pediatric dentists know how to deal with children because they received an additional 2 to 3 years of intensive training to handle pediatric cases. If you are a parent you know pretty well that dealing with children is a challenge especially if you are dealing with toddlers. It can be tempting for parents to just forego dental appointments because it’s impossible to convince kids to have their mouths checked. Almost always, the kids throw tantrums. Pediatric dentists know how to work with kids. They utilize clever strategies and techniques that they’ve learned from their years of training as a pediatric dentist. Believe it or not but a pediatric dentist knows how to make children feel relaxed and calm.

#2 Pediatric dentists have the best clinics! They’re not the typical dental clinics you normally go to. Pediatric dentists’ clinics are designed to look like playgrounds. You’ll find toys and the walls aren’t white-washed but rather painted with vibrant colors to make children feel at ease. Part of their training is to create a child-friendly environment. When a child steps inside the clinic, the aim is to make the child feel safe.

#3 Each child is unique with his or her own distinctive character and personality. Pediatric dentists are trained to deal with all kinds of children and they know how to handle each child’s personality right from the start. This is one of the reasons why you should take the time to look for a qualified pediatric dentist.

#4 Skipping dental appointments can be detrimental to your child’s oral health. Children are more prone to cavities and tooth decay even if their teeth are still baby teeth. Do you know why? There are tons of reasons why. One, they love candies and all other sweet treats. Two, it’s possible that they aren’t brushing their teeth correctly. These are reasons enough to put them at risk of oral health problems. Visiting a pediatric dentist will give you the opportunity to ask how to better care for your child’s teeth and gums at home. It’s likely that the brushing techniques you taught them are incorrect.

#5 Pediatric dentists use special miniature tools. The instruments have the perfect size to get them inside your children’s mouths with ease.

#6 Every trip to your pediatric dentist is an educational experience not just for parents but for your children as well. Pediatric dentists know how to explain oral care routine at a level and pace that your children can understand. They also use techniques in teaching children that allows them to appreciate their oral health.

Takeaway

We understand that not all parents have the patience to convince their children to go to the dentist. Sometimes, the parents just give up because they feel hopeless, stressed, vexed, and frustrated. If you can relate, the good news is you don’t have to do it all by yourself. You can partner with a reliable pediatric dentist to ease your burden.