What is a Pediatric Dentist?
Much in the same way children are examined by a pediatrician for issues related to their health, children will often visit pediatric dentists raleigh north carolina for their oral health.
Pediatric dentists (pedodontists) are dentists who specialize in providing care and treatment for children. To become a certified pedodontist, this requires completing two to three years of training beyond graduating from dental school, with a specialized course of dentistry that focuses on providing dental treatment for children with special needs or who require gentler care. This coursework also involves training in hospitals with children who require special supports or who experience dental emergencies, as well as training in child development and psychology, teeth-straightening methods, conscious sedation and general anesthesia, and care for oral/facial trauma.
Pediatric dentists typically work closely with general dentists and pediatricians, who refer patients for treatment that requires advanced training.
What Age Range do Pediatric Dentists Treat?
Pediatric dentists are trained to treat children from the time they are newborns to the day they graduate college. For patients who experience unique issues during development or who have had surgeries to address oral issues, it is not uncommon to continue working with their pediatric dentist given the fact that they have an established relationship with them and a deep understanding of their unique dental history and treatment plan.
Differences Between a Pediatric Dentist and a General Dentist
Pediatric dentistry training is required for all general dentists, however not all general dentists have the same level of comfort providing services to younger patients. Some clinics specialize in serving families and are well trained in the behavioral approaches that are appropriate for providing appropriate care, while other clinics may specialize in treatments for older patients or do not perform treatments for patients with special needs.
If this is the case with your clinic, your dentist should be able to provide a recommendation for a pediatric dentist. Otherwise, you can search for a pediatric dentist near you on the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) website.
Benefits of Seeing a Pediatric Dentist
When deciding between taking your child to a family dentist or a pediatric dentist, it is important to consider the benefits to each.
The benefits to taking your child to a family dentist include:
- Ease of having your dental care occurring the same place as your child
- Most clinics are competent and comfortable with treating children
- Many clinics offer a range of specialties
The benefits of taking your child to a pediatric dentist include:
- Additional training and specialized focus result in improved services
- All resources related to the clinic are geared towards child care
- Office environment is designed to ensure the comfort of your child and make the process enjoyable
- Dental tools are child-friendly
- Pediatric dentist can provide in-depth and comprehensive information on preventative care unique to children
- Extensive knowledge in preventative care for kids.
While there are benefits to both types of care, in general it is recommended that your child be seen by a pediatric dentist, especially if they have unique dental needs or require dental surgery.
More about Pediatric Dentistry : Pediatric Dentistry FAQ