Childhood is an age of innocence where many changes happen in body and mind. Parents are continuously bothered about their kids’ health in all respects, including dental health. For families, it is quite common to have a common dentist for every member of the family. But as we seek specialists for our children in the form of a pediatrician, we also must have a pediatric dentist for our kids.

Pediatric dentists are called pedodontists who are equipped with specialized skills to provide dental care to infants, children, and teens. Since children and teens undergo many cycles of change and growth till they reach the age of 18 years, a dentist is better placed to deal with the dental issues of your kids. 

We will take a closer look into how your kids can benefit immensely by getting help from pedodontists for different dental issues.

What is a Pedodontist?

A pediatric dentist is someone who treats dental issues occurring in toddlers, children, and teenagers. 

• Pediatric dentists receive the same training as general dentists.
• During their master’s program, pedodontists undergo intensive training to gain in-depth theoretical knowledge in pediatric dentistry by getting involved in research and academics.
• During their master’s program, pediatric dentists strengthen their practical knowledge by treating children.
• As part of their curriculum, pediatric dentists might also get involved with school camps which gives them immense exposure in their area of work.

Advantages of Taking Your Child to a Pediatric Dentist

Childhood is the time when you can help your kids establish good dental care rituals and health practices. A pediatric dentist can assist you immensely in instilling solid dental health routines for developing strong teeth for your children. 

Your child’s first visit to a dentist could be an anxious and scary moment for them, but a trained pediatric dentist could ease this experience considerably. Consider the following benefits of a pediatric dentist over general dentists to decide who you want to go to for any dental issues of your kids:

• Provide comfort, reduce fear, and distraction – Dental procedures could be excruciating for kids, and they usually turn to their parents for comfort during these times. But if you are surrounded by staff trained in handling children, they could offer novelty and interesting experiences for the kids, which can be very effective in settling them down. 
• Specialized training – Young teeth and jaws of children need a different kind of dental care which pediatric dentists specialize in. The specialization of pediatric dentists can provide safer and more effective solutions that are comfortable for you and your kid.
• More awareness about common childhood dental issues and habits – Infants and even older children have habits like thumb sucking or teeth grinding. These habits could lead to aggravated dental issues later in their lives. Pediatric dentists are well-versed in dealing with these problems and can come up with creative solutions to eliminate such behaviors.
• Prevention of common problems – Due to their immense knowledge about dental issues related to kids, pediatric dentists can proactively take measures to prevent some of the most common problems. They could apply sealants to discourage the growth of cavities (specifically in new molars) before the cavities could form.
• Early intervention in the case of orthodontics – Dentists deft in handling kids’ dental issues can identify signs early on in case your child needs braces. If they are trained as orthodontists then they can try early intervention to encourage teeth to grow straight. If not, they would refer you to an orthodontist.
• Understanding of changes and growth in children – From infancy to 18 years of age, kids go through many changes. The dental changes are huge when it comes to the oral part as the shape of the entire jaw changes and moves during a child’s growth. Due to such quick and tremendous changes, working with a pediatric dentist ensures the best possible dental care for your child’s teeth all through their childhood and teenage years.
• Making dental care a fun routine – Brushing and flossing should be a habit ingrained in you by the time you are an adult. But convincing kids to take oral health seriously could be a tough job for parents. But a trusted clinic’s staff are equipped with ways to make dental care appear fun to kids. Dealing with young patients in an age-appropriate manner becomes a pediatric dentist’s second nature. Hence, they can easily teach good dental practices to children while having an enjoyable time.

It is essential to bring your children as young as two years to a pediatric dentist. Emphasizing the significance of oral health at a young age would make this habit stick with them as adults too. While choosing the right pediatric dentist for your young ones, consider the clinic environment, their tactics for dealing with misbehaving kids, and their medical tool size (whether it is apt for kids or not).