Pediatric dentistry, which is also known as pedodontics, is an area of dental medicine that caters for the needs of infants, children, adolescents as well as any patients with special needs. You probably know too well already that children are especially susceptible to tooth decay in addition to several other tooth related issues; this informs the importance of establishing good dental hygiene as well as a good relationship between your child and the pediatric dentist as early as possible.
There is a slight difference between the practice of pediatric dentistry and adult dentistry because pediatric dentists are specifically trained to take good care of the mouth, teeth and gums of children throughout their difference faces of development. Just like the rest of specialized dentists, pediatric dentists will complete the full four years of study in dental school after which they will be required to take up some two years of residency training in children dentistry as well as being enabled to take care of patients with special needs.
Training for pediatric dentistry equips the dentists to be able to make children feel at ease whenever they come to the dentist’s office. You will almost always find some bright colored offices that are furnished with child friendly furniture and equipment so that the trip to the dentist is fun and something children can always look forward to. These dentists know too well how much fear children have for the dentist’s chair and, as such, they always employ fun ways to help the children relax; this can include showing the child all the dental equipment before they start the routine checkup. All this is done in order to make routine dental visits a positive experience that will make the kids develop lifelong dental habits.
While there are several different recommendations on when you should first take your infant to the dentist, there seems to be a general consensus that this should occur as soon as their first tooth erupts but not later than their first birthday. However, there are other professionals who advice that unless your child sleeps with the bottle or cup or they are sucking heir thumb, you can comfortable wait until they are three years of age before making their first dental visit. Ensuring that you take your child to the pediatric dentist early is important because it will help them identify any potential problems early enough and they get treated before they can become serious.
You want to remember that there is more to pediatric dentistry than brushing of teeth; these professionals are also available to supply answers to any questions that parents usually have as well as all their concerns about their children’s dental care. Establish a good relationship with a pediatric dentist and good dental hygiene habits and your child’s teeth will be safe and sound
This article is penned Lora Davis for Spectrum Dental Group. They are a dental clinic located in Irvine, CA and offer a range of dental and dentistry procedures including cosmetic veneers, pediatric dentistry and more.