Pediatric dentists are trained specifically to help children maintain their dental health. We’re excited to welcome our new pediatric dentist and share how pediatric dentistry is important.

If you’re a parent, you know kids can be a little fussy at times. They don’t like to sit still for very long, they love sugar, and when they say they brushed their teeth before bed, there’s a 50/50 chance they haven’t. Visiting the dentist can also be scary for many people, but especially for children who are young and don’t know what to expect. Our office has a new pediatric dentist on board to help you and your little ones! Here are just a few of the reasons why your child should see a pediatric dentist compared to a general dentist.

Experience & Expertise
Pediatric dentists are experts in their field. They receive the same training that general dentists do, but there is a clear difference in the way they handle children. Pediatric dentists care specifically for primary teeth. Some people brush off taking care of “baby teeth” because they think they will fall out eventually and be replaced with “adult teeth”, or permanent teeth, but this not always true! Some primary teeth don’t fall out Other ways that baby and adult teeth differ is their enamel. Baby teeth have far thinner enamel than adult teeth which require different care and cleaning techniques. It’s always best to work with a practitioner – like a pediatric dentist – that specializes in the type of care that you need to make sure that you’re getting the best care possible.

Besides the physical care for your child’s teeth, pediatric dentists help make oral care fun! Teaching children how to care for their teeth isn’t the most exciting, but pediatric dentists can help encourage kids to develop good oral care habits and can lead to fewer problems down the road.

Lastly, pediatric dentists know all about bad habits children often have that affect their dental health like thumb sucking, teeth grinding, and binging on sugar and sweets. These habits may appear harmless, but they can do some serious danger down the road. Not only do they know what to look out for, they know how to handle it.

Emotional Training
When it comes to pediatric dentistry, it’s not all about the technical and medical processes and procedures—pediatric dentistry also focuses on the emotional and mental factors of patients. Pediatric dentists often receive additional training to help prepare them to work with kids emotionally. Many people, even adults, fear a visit to the dentist (having your mouth poked and prodded around isn’t exactly a fun time). Pediatric dentists often decorate their room with bright, cheery colors and help ease the mood during the appointment by making jokes, asking your child questions to distract them, and trying to be more welcoming and cheerful than a general dentist.

Half the battle of a child’s dentist appointment is making sure the child feels comfortable, safe, and knows what’s going on so that they are less scared in the future. Mom and Dad can also be worried about their child’s safety and pediatric dentists are great at handling any questions or concerns parents may have about their child’s dental health.

There are plenty of benefits to visiting a pediatric dentist compared to a general dentist: the experience of working with children and their smaller and weaker teeth, the expertise of helping them prevent dental issues by correcting bad behaviors, and even the emotional capacity to make a dentist visit less scary and possibly fun. You should take advantage of our new pediatric dentist and schedule an appointment for your little ones today.