Pediatric Dentists: How Can They Help Your Child?

Oral hygiene is commonly ignored by most people, particularly parents who do not deem a dental visit for their children necessary until or unless severe symptoms such as those associated with a cavity are observed. While you should regularly visit your dentist to maintain good oral health and avoid any problems in the first place, consider taking your child to one as well. Pediatric Dentists can better help in this regard as they have expertise specific to children.

What Services Do Pediatric Dentists Offer?

Kids start teeth development six months after their birth. Their initial set of teeth are important as they aid in development of eating, speaking, your smile, creating the settings for the second set of teeth, and supporting growth of jaw muscles.  

Around seven years of age they begin to lose their temporary teeth. This is when the second set of permanent teeth start to grow. 

This is when children need dental check up as they can get tooth decay and misalignment that can cause issues further down the line. Some dental issues are more common among children than other popular issues like asthma. 

Doctors suggest that this stage, when the permanent teeth start coming in, is when prevention becomes the most important.

If you visit with a pediatric dentist during this time period, then he will suggest getting a sealant placed in the teeth. This is a substance that sticks to the teeth and keeps the cavities from creeping into the surface of the teeth. This can be essential because cavities are common during permanent teeth development. 

Pediatric dentists offer multiple dental health services. These include the following:

• Prescribing nutritional in-take for dental health and preventive instruments such as mouthwash and fluoride toothpaste.
• Complete oral examination of the child; this check helps catch potential issues.
• Examining the mouth for conditions whose risk factors include asthma, ADHD, diabetes, hay fever, and congenital heart defects.
• Resolving cavities and other tooth issues.
• Consultation for bad oral habits like sucking on the thumb.
• Solutions for injuries that cause breakage, loosening, or fracturing of teeth. 
• Early Diagnoses and correction of misaligned teeth and irregular bite.
• Providing solutions for gum-related issues and diseases such as periodontal disease, ulcers, mucoceles etc.
• Solutions for injuries that cause breakage, loosening, or fracturing of teeth. 

When to visit a Pediatric Dentist?

According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), a child’s first visit to the dentist should be no earlier than their first birthday and no later than the six after the eruption of the first tooth; with appointments scheduled twice a year.

This early age limit can be attributed to the rapidly rising cases of infant and toddler tooth decay, which makes it imperative to consult with a specialist trained in child oral hygiene to prevent these issues from arising in the first place.

In Case of Special Circumstances

Aside from the general early first-visit requirement, some parents might seek the assistance of a pediatric dentist if:

• The child’s bite is uneven or teeth formation is crooked.
• Cavities form beneath the baby teeth and below the gum.
• The child is suffering from special medical conditions such as heart, respiratory or blood disorders.
• There are any delays in the eruption or falling out of the baby teeth.
• An accident or injury results in the loss of one or multiple teeth.

Why should you take your child to a Pediatric Dentist?

While children are usually terrified of all medical visits, dental phobia is especially easy to develop in children, owing to the various examination tools, uncomfortable seating arrangements and the overall no-nonsense behavior of a general dentist.

Pediatric dentists have a vast understanding of child psychology as a part of their specialized training-spanning an extra 2-3 years aside from the requisite dental studies-making them more relatable and able to treat children in an effective and non-threatening manner.

Furthermore, a pediatric dentist trains to cater specifically to the management and treatment of a child’s developing teeth, physical growth and development, and the special needs of children’s dentistry, making them the optimum choice for your child.

It should be noted that pediatric dentist can be consulted not only for the dental problems of infants and toddlers, but also school-age children and adolescents.

The First Visit

An initial visit to the dentist mainly includes familiarizing the child with the clinical environment which includes the various routine check-up practices and ensuring a child’s comfort level in the examination chair.

The dentist will also discuss initial oral health care steps and preventative measures with the parents, with reference to the specific medical needs of a child, if applicable.

For future visits, the pediatric dentist will also help in early detection and treatment of various dental problems in a child specific manner.

Book your child’s first dental appointment with a Top Pediatric Dentist in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi through oladoc.com. Or call our helpline at 042-3890-0939 for assistance to find the RIGHT Doctor for your child’s needs.