Peculiarities Of Pediatric Dentistry.

Oftentimes, children are taken by their parents or caregivers to see a family or general dentist. However, instead, these kids would benefit more from the specialized care and attention of a Pediatric dentist, especially children with special needs or disabilities.

The branch of dentistry dealing with the provision of oral health care for infants, toddlers, children with special needs and being in charge of their care even up to adolescence refers to Pediatric dentistry services.

Reading through, you’d be able to learn more about the differences between Pediatric dentists and general dentists and the benefits they provide, and how you can seek for and enjoy the service of pediatric dentistry near you.

Between General And Pediatric Dentistry.

Pediatric dentists are dentists who are specially trained and specialize in the oral health of kids and adolescents. They can also be called Pediatric Orthodontists, and Pediatric dentistry can also be called Pediatric Orthodontics.

As kids usually have unpredictable thoughts and feelings and hence would need special understanding and techniques to engage them, not every licensed dentist can have the patience and calmness to work with kids, and also kids as well don’t have the patience to cooperate with just every dentist, especially those who cannot speak their ‘’language’’.

Pediatric dentists intentionally put in the work to become experts in children’s needs. A pediatric dentist is equal parts educator and practitioner, so they have extra training beyond dental school to solidify their expertise in the emotional and developmental needs of children.

Pediatric dentists complete a program to be able to do this. The program involves two to three years of further training after dental school and involves working in hospitals and working with children who need more severe dental treatment and emergencies. Pediatric dentists also get to learn orthodontic teeth-straightening methods and they do this by working closely with Pediatricians and general dentists who will refer select patients to Pediatric dentists. Some Pediatric dentists teach in dental schools and work in hospital training facilities to research to develop better methods of preventing oral health problems in children.

What Are The Duties Of Pediatric Dentists?

Pediatric dentists provide children dental care which comes in the form of routine check-ups and treatments they need to maintain good oral health. Some of these treatments include:

Routine Check-ups

X-Rays

Sealants filling

Fluoride Treatments

Fillings

Brace applications.

If a question you’ve asked yourself is how to get a kid’s dentist near you, Dr. Van is an emergency dentist in New Port Richey with his dental office providing effective services.

Who Should See A Pediatric Dentist?

Regular pediatric dental care is the best way to prevent cavities, gum disease, and other oral health conditions, and hence, all children and adolescents, including those with physical or mental disabilities, should receive regular dental care throughout childhood. These regular pediatric dental care generally includes a routine dental cleaning and exam every six months, or more often as recommended by your pediatric dentist.

When Should I Take My Child To See A Pediatric Dentist?

In addition to regular dental exams and care, consider seeking care from an experienced pediatric dentist if your child has any of the following symptoms or conditions:

• Having a bad breath or dry mouth
• Bleeding gums
• Noticeable changes in their teeth, gums, lips, or tongue
• Having crooked or discolored teeth
• Delayed teeth eruption in babies or tooth loss
• Sensitivity to hot and cold liquids or pain with chewing
• Tooth, mouth, or jaw pain or swelling of the oral tissues such as the gums

And in older children and adolescents, if behaviors that increase their risk of dental problems including playing contact sports, frequent snacking between meals (a risk factor for cavities), smoking, excessive alcohol use, and high-risk oral sex practices are observed.

Asides from these, pediatric dentists also offer counseling services for parents and children, regarding their nutrition and diet, as well as other health resources needed to maintain very good oral health hygiene.