Your children deserve the best in not just health care, but dental care as well. Unlike adults, children have unique dental needs that parents need to keep in mind before they hit the search bar for ‘pediatric clinic near me.’
According to the Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Dental Association (ADA), a child should make their first visit to the dentist as soon as their first tooth appears. This occurs between the ages of 6 to 12 months, when the lower front milk tooth erupts. By around age 3, all milk teeth will have erupted in your child’s mouth; make sure their first trip to the dentist does not extend beyond the age of 2 years.
What Does a Pediatric Dentist Do?
In addition to standard dental education and licensing, pediatric dentists undergo additional years of training that make them experts in dealing with children and their dental health. Your child’s pediatric dentist plays multiple roles in ensuring that your child receives the best in oral care.
Early Visit to the Dentist:
The initial dental visits of a child can make or break their future interactions with their dentist. An unpleasant experience at the dental office can heavily distort the way they view the significance of maintaining their dental health. Pediatric dentists and their supporting staff are trained to make your child feel comfortable in the dental clinic with the help of communication, fun visual aids, and pain-free procedures.
Development of Oral Hygiene Habits:
Maintenance of oral hygiene is an essential aspect of maintaining a healthy and beautiful smile. While infants and toddlers are too young to understand the importance of such measures, a pediatric dentist offers appropriate advice to parents on how to keep your young child’s mouth clean and healthy. As children grow older, they can learn good oral hygiene habits from their pediatric dentist themselves. Your dentist may also advise the application of fluoride or dental sealants on your child’s teeth to prevent them from decay further.
Prevention of Future Dental Problems:
Regular visits to the pediatric dentist helps keep a check on developing cavities in your child’s mouth. Children are prone to decay more than adults since their tooth enamel is less resistant to dissolution from the acids produced by the bacteria in the mouth. Moreover, children eat more sugary and sticky foods that adhere to teeth and leads to higher chances of decay. Taking your child to the dentist every six months not only ensures oral health but can also help in the detection of any malocclusion or dental anomalies that might develop in the future.
Children with Special Healthcare Needs:
Pediatric dentists have training to provide preventive and restorative oral care to children with special healthcare needs as well. Unlike regular dentists and the traditional dental set-up, pediatric dental clinics are well-equipped to deal with the behavioral or medical issues that may arise while providing dental care to children with special needs.
Emergency Dental Care:
Dental emergencies may arise with children more commonly than with adults. Active children often end up with a fractured or avulsed tooth, which is a frequent scenario seen in pediatric clinics. Pediatric dentists are well-equipped in dealing with such cases and providing the necessary emergency dental care.
At RiverRock Dental, Shakopee, MN, our dedicated pediatric team specializes in offering you a comprehensive range of dental care aimed at children of all ages. We make going to see the dentist a fun and friendly experience for your kids, which will help them look forward to all their future dental appointments.
