When it comes to your child’s dental health, we know you want to ensure they’re in the right hands. As pediatric dentists, doctors like Dr. Lee, are ready to use their unique set of skills, experience, and understanding of children to help provide care that meets your child’s needs and sets the foundation for positive dental experiences.
A pediatric dentist is a specialized type of dentist who provides primary and comprehensive care for children’s teeth, from their infancy through their adolescence. Pediatric dentists have undergone special training to understand how to address the specific dental needs of growing children by offering preventive and therapeutic oral health services.
Understanding Pediatric Dentistry
Pediatric dentistry is a field of dental care focused on the oral health of children from infancy through their teenage years. Pediatric dentists are trained to address common dental concerns of children, including managing the teething process and guiding teenagers through orthodontics. The care they provide is based on a specialized understanding of how children’s teeth and gums can rapidly develop at a young age.
Pediatric dentists provide preventive and therapeutic dental diagnoses, consultations, and care for children. They may also offer these services to people of all ages with special medical care needs.
With their focus on caring for children, pediatric dentists can also help reduce dental anxiety in young people who often feel anxious or fearful about visiting the dentist. Pediatric dentists create a welcoming and friendly environment to help ease your child’s worries and turn their dental visits into positive experiences, setting the stage for a lifetime of good oral hygiene.
Additionally, pediatric dentists are familiar with the specific developmental milestones in children’s oral health. They can monitor the growth of your child’s teeth and jaws, providing guidance and intervention when necessary to prevent or treat issues like misaligned teeth or cavities.
What Training Do Pediatric Dentists Complete?
Pediatric dentists undergo specialized training beyond dental school to equip them with the skills needed to care for children’s teeth. Here’s a closer look at their training:
- Dental School: All dentists, including pediatric dentists, must complete a 4-year dental degree program.
- Pediatric Specialty Training: After dental school, pediatric dentists complete additional residency training and advanced education in pediatric dentistry, focusing specifically on children’s dental care.
- Child Psychology: Since pediatric dentists primarily address children’s dental concerns, pediatric dentists also receive training in child psychology to help manage children’s behaviour during dental visits and make the experience as stress-free as possible.
This comprehensive training helps pediatric dentists provide personalized, comprehensive care for your child.
When Should You Seek Out a Pediatric Dentist?
Your child should visit a dentist around their first birthday, or within 6 months of their first tooth erupting—whichever comes first. After the first visit, we recommend visiting a dentist every 6–9 months or following a personalized schedule recommended by your dentist.
One of the primary benefits of visiting a pediatric dentist early and regularly is assessing conditions ahead of time. Regular monitoring helps address issues before they significantly affect your child’s overall health.
What Should You Expect During Your Visit?
From the moment your child enters our dental office, they’re in an environment designed with kids in mind. Our waiting room has toys and games, and our treatment rooms are designed with kids in mind too. This atmosphere helps to alleviate fears or anxieties your child might have about visiting the dentist.
We are experienced in dealing with the dental issues that commonly affect children, such as cavities, misalignment, and trauma. We’ll take the time to talk to you about any issues we might be seeing signs of, so both you and your child can understand them. We can also provide valuable advice on how to protect your child’s teeth as they grow.
What Do Pediatric Dentists Treat?
We are equipped to handle a wide range of dental issues that can affect children. Here’s a look at some of the most common treatments and services we provide:
- Preventive Care: One of the most important roles of a pediatric dentist is to help prevent dental issues before they start. This includes providing regular cleanings, fluoride treatments, and sealants to protect your child’s teeth from cavities. We’ll also provide you with tips on how to maintain good oral hygiene at home to help your child’s smile stay healthy between visits.
- Cavity Treatment: Despite your best efforts, cavities can still happen. We understand, and can treat cavities in children using techniques that minimize discomfort and anxiety.
- Orthodontic Assessment: Even if your child isn’t quite ready for braces yet, we can assess their teeth and jaw alignment to determine if orthodontic treatment might be needed in the future. Early intervention can help guide the proper development of your child’s teeth and jaws, potentially reducing the need for more extensive treatment later on.
- Management of Dental Anxiety: Many children feel nervous about visiting the dentist, but we can help make the experience as positive as possible. We use child-friendly language, compassionate care, enthusiastic friendliness, and other methods to help your child feel comfortable and at ease during their visit.
- Treatment for Dental Injuries: Kids are active, and accidents happen. Whether it’s a chipped tooth from a fall or a knocked-out tooth from a sports injury, we are prepared to handle dental emergencies. We can assess the damage and help restore your child’s smile.
Schedule Your Child’s Next Dental Exam Today
Your child’s oral health is as important to us as it is to you. At London Little Bites Dentistry, we’re here to provide comprehensive and compassionate care in a fun and friendly environment.
If it’s time for your child’s next dental exam—or their first dental exam—contact us today to schedule an appointment. Let us help keep your child’s smile healthy and bright!