Early preventative dental care can help detect and treat dental problems like tooth decay, gum disease, or crooked teeth before they worsen. It also allows children to break bad habits like thumb sucking or teeth grinding and set them up for a lifetime of healthy dental health.
When choosing a pediatric dentist, ask friends and family for recommendations and check their websites. They’ll likely have pictures and descriptions of their kid-friendly offices and waiting rooms on their sites.
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They Have Specialized Training
Albany pediatric dentistry has specialized training to handle dental issues specific to children. For example, they understand how to treat conditions like natal teeth and tongue-tie that require specialized care, and they know how to catch tooth decay early using silver diamine fluoride (SDF).
SDF is an innovative treatment for cavities that eliminates the need for a drill! It is typically painless and more cost-effective than a traditional filling.
Additionally, they understand that certain habits, such as thumb sucking and pacifier use, can harm a child’s oral health, and they can assist parents in breaking these behaviors at the right time. Additionally, they can provide routine X-rays for kids, fluoride applications, and dental sealants. They also encourage kids to maintain healthy brushing and flossing habits.
They Know How to Make Your Child Feel Comfortable
For many children, visiting a dentist is frightening. They don’t know what to expect, and strange adults in masks surround them. Pediatric dentists understand how important it is to make children feel comfortable. They will do whatever they can to make your child feel at ease, including letting them pick out their toothbrush and floss and showing them the tools used during their appointment.
They also understand how to communicate with children in a way they can understand. Using behavioral strategies like tell-show-do can help make the visit less stressful.
In addition, pediatric dentists can give kids the motivation they need to keep up with good oral hygiene habits. Most adults who don’t care for their teeth develop bad dental habits as children.
They Have a Kid-Friendly Office and Waiting Room
A child’s dentist’s office and waiting room are often designed with children in mind. They’ll be brightly colored and have fun and engaging activities for kids. They also have equipment scaled down to fit a child’s body.
Pediatric dentists are also skilled at explaining treatments to children understandably. They may use behavioral strategies like tell-show-do or positive reinforcement to help calm and encourage their young patients.
Taking your child to the dentist from an early age is a great way to develop good oral hygiene habits that will last a lifetime. And because pediatric dentists specialize in treating children, they can better address common problems such as natal teeth, tongue-tie, and early childhood caries.
They Can Catch Issues Early
Even with good oral hygiene habits, some dental issues are best caught and treated early. This is where pediatric dentists come in. They can identify minor problems like tooth decay, gum disease, crooked teeth, or misaligned bites and treat them accordingly.
Kids’ primary teeth grow in around six months and start falling out by age seven, eventually replaced with adult or permanent teeth. If left untreated, cavities in baby teeth can lead to gum disease and other serious problems. Cavities in childhood are five times more common than asthma and hay fever!
While all dentists receive similar training and can offer treatment for people of all ages, pediatric dentists are specifically trained in children’s unique oral health needs. This allows them to catch problems earlier and helps children develop healthy brushing and flossing habits that will last a lifetime.
They Can Help Your Child Develop Good Oral Hygiene Habits
It is important to start children with good dental hygiene habits that will last them a lifetime. This will prevent them from developing more serious oral health issues. Regular brushing, flossing, and visits to the dentist will help them keep their teeth and gums healthy.
Pediatric dentists can teach their patients good brushing and diet habits and give them tips on avoiding tooth decay. They are also able to catch problems like thumb sucking and pacifier use early on and offer advice on how to stop these bad habits.
In addition, they know when it’s time to refer a patient to an orthodontist for problems like an overbite. This simplifies things for parents and kids alike. They are also skilled at explaining treatments to kids in a way they can understand.
