5 Benefits of Visiting a Pediatric Dentist
What You Should Know to Help Make a Good Decision
As parents, it seems that we are faced with endless decisions about how to raise our children to be healthy and productive members of society. We face decisions about what to feed our children, what schools they should go to, and whether we as parents will be working parents or stay-at-home parents. We must decide which professionals we will partner with to help us best care for our kids. Towards the top of the list of the many decisions we must make, we need to decide if our children will see a general practitioner or pediatrician, family dentist, or pediatric dentist.
Just What Is a Pediatric Dentist?
If you are the parent of a young child and are trying to determine if you should take your child to see a pediatric dentist, you probably want to know exactly what a pediatric dentist is. The truth is that pediatric dentists offer the same types of services as a dentist for adults. Typical pediatric dental services include checkups, dental cleanings, fillings, crowns, sealants, and the like. Just like your dentist, a pediatric dentist will work with your child to aid in the prevention, detection, and treatment of potential oral concerns.
Pediatric and general dentists receive a similar education. Most dentists will earn an undergraduate degree and then pursue a doctoral degree in dental medicine or dental surgery as part of their four-year dental program. In most cases, there isn’t a specific undergraduate degree required. Instead, those aspiring to go into dentistry will often major in something science-related such as biology, anatomy, chemistry, and microbiology.
After completing a recognized dental program, pediatric dentists will take at least two years as a dental resident to gain experience in the pediatric dentist field. Once that residency has been completed, an exam is taken for licensure. Family dentists or general dentists will undergo a similar postgraduate process.
Benefits Parents Should Know About Visiting a Pediatric Dentist
Now that you understand that a pediatric dentist has the same educational background and credentials as a general dentist, you are likely wondering then, what are the benefits of a pediatric dentist? Understanding the benefits of visiting a pediatric dentist will prepare you for what to expect during your baby’s first dental appointment. And, if you are currently seeing a general dentist, it might be helpful to know what to expect at your older child’s first visit to a pediatric dentist.
1. A pediatric dentists specializes in dentistry for children.
Though pediatric dentists and general dentists undergo the same education, pediatric dentists dedicate much of their studies to learning how to work with children. This means that your pediatric dentist will better understand common childhood behaviors, food and beverage preferences, and other factors that might impact your child’s oral health.
2. A pediatric dentist undergoes specialized training on how to deal with children.
Perhaps you remember your first visit to the dentist as a child. The chances are that you were scared, or if you weren’t scared, you were at least a bit squirrelly. After all, it is hard for little ones to sit in a chair for the 30 to 60 minutes that it can often take for a typical dental visit. When you take your child to see a pediatric dentist, you can rest assured that the dentists, such as the dentists at Must Love Kids Pediatric Dentistry, have been well-trained on working with children and have a few tricks up their sleeve to help your child be more comfortable and cooperative during their visit.
3. Your child will appreciate a kid-friendly office and waiting room.
Pediatric dentists know that children often have some excess energy to burn. Not only that, but young kids are curious and like to explore. One of the last things that a parent wants during their child’s trip to the dentist is an office that feels like a museum, full of items that their child could damage or break. Pediatric dental offices are child-friendly, often with toys and activities for children to explore as they wait for their appointment.
At Must Love Kids Pediatric Dentistry, our dental offices are kid-friendly. From high-speed Wi-Fi to touch screen tablets that allow your child to color with their hands, browse the internet, or play interactive video games, there are plenty of child-friendly stimuli available to help your child enjoy their visit.
4. Pediatric dentists leverage kid-friendly dental equipment.
In addition to the fun waiting rooms full of display cases of collectible statues and maquettes that kids and adults will enjoy, Must Love Kids Pediatric Dentistry boasts the latest technology to enhance the quality and comfort of your child’s dental care. Computerized offices, paperless charting, digital x-rays, needleless anesthesia, and a green office are all in place to help make your child’s visit to the dentist an easy one.
5. Pediatric dentists love kids.
Let’s face it; not everyone has a love or adoration for children. For this reason, parents certainly don’t want to take their child to a general dentist that doesn’t love children. Of course, this isn’t to say that this general dentist wouldn’t provide your child with the best care possible, but it is entirely possible that the visit might not be as seamless as it could be.
Pediatric dentists love what they do. They decided to specialize in pediatric dentistry because they recognized a unique need to create a comfortable, pleasant, and pain-free experience for today’s youth. And just as these dentists want to create an excellent experience for your child, they want to make it easy and comfortable for parents too.
Pediatric dentists understand that parents are going to have lots of questions about their child’s dental care. And those pediatric dental questions will likely be ongoing.
Must Love Kids Pediatric Dentistry creates a fun dental experience for children and their parents.
If you have decided that a pediatric dentist is right for your child, we can’t wait to see you. Whether it is easing your child’s dental anxiety or helping you with the dos and don’ts of dental care, we are confident that Must Love Kids Pediatric Dentistry will be a game changer in your child’s oral care. Give us a call at (360) 443-5404 or request an appointment on our website.