Are you looking for a dentist in Mt. Washington, KY for your child?
As our children grow up, so do their teeth and gums. If you want them to have the best possible oral health, then you need to have them see a dentist at least every 6 months from the time around when their first teeth pop out. Many parents either aren’t aware of this or ignore obvious dental issues until their child is older.
When you ignore your child’s dental health, they may grow up with, at the very least, cavities. What starts as a minor cavity or two can actually lead to many further problems down the road.
If you’ve got a great pediatric dentist involved from the very beginning, however, you can avoid these issues completely. In this post, we’re going to tell you what to look for in a pediatric dentist so that you don’t have to worry about leaving your child’s oral health in the wrong hands.
The Big Difference With Pediatric Dentistry
Although the basic training is generally the same with both general and pediatric dentistry, the approach is so much different. Children deal with different types of problems as their bone structure, teeth, and gums develop rapidly with age.
In many cases, issues that could be easily prevented when a child is 3 or 4, left untreated, become much harder to deal with at 7 or 8. It’s so important to have a dentist that understands how to treat these rapid dental changes in children.
We’ll discuss the technical importance more in this article, but the other important part of pediatric dentistry is a comfortable, friendly, and trustworthy environment. At Kentuckiana Pediatric Dentistry in Mt. Washington, we take great pride in being loved by kids and trusted by their parents.
Now, let’s look at some of the special skills that your child’s dentist should have.
Extra Training to Work With Kids
To become a pediatric dentist, a general dentist needs to undergo a further 2-3 years of residency/specialty training after undergrad and dental school. During this, they’re trained to do things like treat children while under sedation, treat medically challenged children, and manage any concerns related to the growth and development of a child’s mouth and face.
Furthermore, pediatric dentists are prepared to take on the specific challenges that come with preventative and restorative dentistry, unique to growing children.
Specifically, when children enter their preteen and teen years, the rapid growth that they undergo poses particular challenges, which a general dentist could treat but may find difficult. A pediatric dentist that has treated a child for years will always be better equipped to handle that child as they grow, due to both the familiarity, and the aforementioned training.
So, when looking for a dentist for your child – regardless of age – there are many benefits to seeking out one that’s been through the extra clinical training to become a pediatric dentist.
Using a Unique Approach for Unique Kids
Orthodontic treatment is not one size fits all, regardless of whether you’re working with children or adults. You’ll want to seek out a dentist that acknowledges this and approaches your child’s oral care with their specific teeth, gums, and mouth in mind.
An experienced dentist will have seen a lot of different children with a lot of different dental problems, which should help them to quickly diagnose issues and provide the proper care. That being said, they should have a unique approach for every type of dental situation.
Preventative Dentistry
Preventative dentistry has to do with scheduling regular checkups (every 6 months), doing cleanings, and instilling really good dental habits in a child. It’s important for kids to understand the importance of brushing and flossing at an early age, and seeing a dentist can help to reinforce those behaviors.
The other side of preventative dentistry is recognizing small issues in a child’s tooth and gum development, then taking the appropriate action to ensure that it doesn’t become a major issue down the line. Things like fluoride application, sealants, regular tooth and jaw x-rays, and fitting retainers would all fall under preventative dentistry.
With specialized knowledge of how a children’s teeth and jaw development should progress, a pediatric dentist is the best choice for ensuring oral health throughout childhood.
Restorative Dentistry
Restorative dentistry, on the other hand, is the dental work as a result of cavities. If cavities are left untreated in your child’s baby teeth, it can cause pain, infection, and potential damage to their permanent teeth.
Some restorative dentistry practices your dentist should provide are:
- Dental fillings
- Crowns
- Tooth extractions
- Spacers
- Pulp therapy
A good pediatric dentist won’t make the children feel bad about having to perform restorative dentistry. They will, however, provide educational feedback to ensure that the child is taking their oral health more seriously after one of these procedures.
Treating Different Age Groups
The ability to make kids feel happy and comfortable in a dentist’s chair can’t be understated. Kids aren’t exactly leaping out of their seats to go in for a dental checkup, so the environment needs to be kid-friendly. A positive atmosphere with encouraging dentists that provide great dental education is what you should seek out.
A pediatric dentist should also have the proper equipment to deal with kids of different ages. Smaller children require smaller dental tools to accommodate their smaller teeth and jaw areas. Regular dental tools would not only create a lot of discomfort in the child, but they’re too big for the dentist to properly work on smaller teeth.
Find Your Dentist In Mt. Washington, KY
At Kentuckiana Pediatric Dentistry, we deliver high quality dental care in a relaxed atmosphere. Our goal is for your child to be comfortable with dentistry, so we provide not only the best possible dental care, but fun and helpful dental education as well.
Visit our site to learn more about our office, meet our doctors, and read more helpful articles about pediatric dentistry. If you’re looking for a dentist in Mt. Washington, KY and want to make an appointment for your child, contact us today.
Recent Comments