September 24, 2022
Every parent wants the best for their child’s oral health, which is why you should take them to a pediatric dentist during their most important developmental years.
Children are at high risk for oral health problems and it’s important to catch signs of issues such as tongue and lip ties or misaligned bites early so we can prevent serious consequences later in life.
Read on in this blog from Pinky Promise Pediatric Dentistry to learn why you should choose a pediatric dentist over a family dentist if you want your child to get the excellent, child-friendly care they deserve.
Pediatric dentists have earned a specialization in their field by attending an additional two to three years of schooling and training on top of the four years of dental school.
During their residency training, they learn how to treat children of all ages from infancy to adulthood as well as children with special needs.
A pediatric dentist is qualified to prevent, diagnose, and treat oral health problems that occur in children. This includes educating children and parents on how to properly care for a child’s teeth, treating issues like tongue and lip ties, treating early orthodontic problems, helping wean children off of pacifiers and thumb sucking, and prevention.
They are experts in children's oral health care. They know what to look for, how to prevent issues that are unique to children, and how to treat them in a minimally invasive way that will preserve the health of your child’s teeth.
Pediatric dentists employ smaller tools and advanced technology in their dental offices to minimize pain and discomfort and to be more precise with treatment. A pediatric dentist will take their time to show a child each dental tool they are using and explain how they are going to use it.
Digital x-rays and impressionless scans mean lower radiation emissions and no need for uncomfortable putty in physical molds for treatment. We also use Solea CO2 lasers which eliminate the need for surgical tools, anesthetic, and stitches by painlessly cutting through the soft tissues as the laser cauterizes the wound.
This reduces bleeding, inflammation, swelling, and infection risk and is completely painless. Soft tissue lasers can be used for a variety of dental treatments in place of more invasive oral surgery.
Pediatric dentists are trained in child development, child psychology, how to alleviate dental anxiety, and how to communicate with children. We have special techniques to help us communicate things to your child in a child-friendly way, such as using the show-tell-do technique to explain things to your child so they feel more at ease and less scared.
A pediatric dental office is designed to appeal to children with bright colors, fun games, entertainment, and distractions. At Pinky Promise Pediatric Dentistry, we offer TVs in our treatment rooms and the companionship of our service pup to help children feel comfortable and relaxed.
The entire team is expertly trained in how to communicate with children in an age-appropriate way and provide them with compassionate support.
If your child has dental anxiety or other special needs, we offer various forms of dental sedation to relax them and melt away their worries. We can also accommodate children with special needs in other ways such as adapting our communication styles or the environment to make them feel more comfortable.
Your child can be fully unconscious during their procedure if they have severe dental anxiety or a medical condition that makes treating them difficult while they are awake. Your child can just sleep during their appointment and will wake up with a healthier mouth without any stress or trauma!
There’s simply no substitute for a pediatric dentist. While a family dentist can provide general dental care to your child, it will be substandard care compared to what the specialization of a pediatric dentist offers. Contact us at Pinky Promise Pediatric Dentistry to schedule an appointment with Dr. Patel.
We accept all PPO insurance plans. We do not accept Medicaid or HMO policies. For our uninsured patients, ask us about our Membership Plan, Pinky Perks!
