4 Reasons Parents Should Take Their Children to a Pediatric Dentist

About one in every five children in the 5-11 age range have at least a single untreated decaying tooth. Cavities are over five times more common in children than childhood asthma and about 20 times more common than diabetes. We can’t stress enough how important proper dental care is for children. You should look after your baby’s oral health before his/her first tooth erupts.  From using an infant toothbrush to scheduling regular visits with a pediatric dentist, parents should laser-focus on their children’s dental care.  But why exactly does it have to be a pediatric dentist?  If that’s what you’re wondering, we’ve listed down the four reasons parents should take their children to a pediatric dentist.  Let’s have a look.

Why Should You Take Your Child to a Pediatric Dentist?

Following are the four reasons you should take your child to a pediatric dentist:

• Pediatric Dentists are The Children Experts
• They Are Well-Equipped with Pediatric Equipment
• Focus on Preventive Care
• Educate Parents on Their Child’s Oral Health Care

Let’s touch on each of these reasons one at a time.

Pediatric Dentists are the Children Experts

The #1 reason you should take your child to a pediatric dentist – they are the children’s dental care experts. Child specialist dentists hold deep expertise in diagnosing, preventing, and treating dental problems in infants, children, and teenagers.  Upon completing dental school and passing a series of dental certification exams, graduates with the aim of becoming pediatric dentists go through an intensive pediatric dentistry residency program – which helps them learn how to look after the oral health of infants, children, teenagers, and kids with special needs.  Children may not always enjoy a dental visit. Pediatric dentists are masters at making them feel comfortable and turning the entire process a lot more enjoyable for them. To efficiently communicate with your children, a pediatric dentist may use one of these proven methods:

• Positive reinforcement: Praise the patients for good behavior
• Tone: Using an extremely soothing and friendly tone
• Tell-show-do: Explaining the treatment to the patients in an extremely simplified manner.

They are Well-Equipped with Pediatric Tools

Upon visiting a pediatric office, you’ll find everything geared towards making children feel comfortable. From their office environment to their tools to the pediatric dentists themselves, you’ll find your children feeling a whole lot comfortable.  Child specialist dentists line their office’s interior with soothing colors and furnishing for kids.  Pediatric dentists know how important it is to make children feel comfortable during their visits. Their tools are the same as you’d find in traditional dental clinics – but they know how to make sure kids are comfortable and happy. 

Focus on Preventive Care

Pediatric dentists are the children’s experts. They know the ins and outs of children’s oral health care. And like we conveyed in the first point; they go through rigorous pediatric dentistry training.  If your baby’s first tooth has erupted or when he/she turns a year old, you should take your child to visit a child specialist dentist.  We’ve witnessed parents book an appointment with pediatric dentists only when they see something unusual in their kid’s mouth. Yes – if you observe something unusual, you should take your children to a pediatric dentist. However, even if there’s no problem, a good practice is to take your children to a pediatric dentist. Creating a relationship and familiarity by heading to a specialist with the training to work specifically with kids and meet their needs will be the best course of treatment for your children.  As important as treating a dental irregularity or injury is, preventive dental care is equally important. We can’t stress that enough. This will help you avoid any potential future issues like cavities, dental irregularities, facial abnormalities, etc. Also, it’s advisable to address these issues as your child grows. Pediatric dentists hold a great deal of expertise in diagnosing, monitoring, treating as well as tracking dental issues as kids grow.   And we’d advise you not to wait and seek the advice of a pediatric dentist if you observe any dental issues like lesions, white spots, or bleeding in your kid’s mouth.

Educate Parents on Their Child’s Oral Health Care

We know how important it is for children to develop good oral habits. But – parents need to be on the same page as well. A good pediatric dentist will provide guidance on proper brushing and flossing techniques. Also, the specialist will shed light on eating habits and how to apply sealants and fluoride the right way.  At the same time, a pediatric specialist will discuss the child’s fear, behavior, and dental health with their parents. He/she will help parents understand the multiple phases involved in a pediatric dental procedure.  Good communication between parents, children, and pediatric dentists is of utmost importance. And that’s one of the areas pediatric dentists excel at.   

Schedule a Consultation with the #1 Pediatric Practice Today!

Your kid needs to feel comfortable.  And as we mentioned numerous times throughout the blog post, pediatric dentists are experts at making children feel comfortable because their passion and training are just for kids and helping parents navigate the different stages of dental development. That’s the reason children love visiting them. From the moment your child’s first tooth erupts or he/she turns one to when he/she turns 21, pediatric care is a must.  If you are a parent on the hunt for best-in-class pediatric care, look no further.  Schedule an appointment with the #1 Pediatric Care in Ellicott City, Columbia, Clarksville & River Hill today.