Dentists - Special Care for Children

For the adult population, a regular check-up with the dentist involves a basic teeth cleaning. The dentist will also check for cavities, but most of the time adult patients do not need a lot of attention. However, pediatric dentistry is a little different. There are certain factors that the dentist must be aware of when caring for juvenile patients that might not be a priority for adults patients. This is why pediatric dentists are one of the nine recognized dental specialties. Furthermore, while a pediatric dentist can treat adult patients, a dentist who treats adult patients is not always qualified to treat children.

Pediatric dentistry differs from general dentistry because a child's oral cavity is structured somewhat differently than an adult's. Also, children will eventually lose their “baby” teeth, which will be replaced by adult teeth. These are just a few of the factors that make it necessary for a separate discipline of dentistry that focuses on younger patients. Although most children will not have a full set of teeth until they are around three years old, a child should first see a dentist around their first birthday. This is because the dentist needs to be sure that the teeth are coming in normally, and there are no problems with early tooth decay caused by the baby bottle. These visits are also helpful because they will get the child acclimated to visiting the dentist. Many children, and even adults are afraid of the dentist either because of a bad personal experience or from stories they have heard from other people. Having good experiences with the dentist early in life can help prevent a fear of the dentist later. During these short visits, the doctor will thoroughly examine the jaw, gums, and oral tissue. Although there aren't many teeth to examine when the child is young, these short examinations can help the dentist to catch any issues early and treat them before they become a bigger problem. Once the primary teeth have grown in, the pediatric dentist will continue to see their patients until they have reached adulthood.

Pediatric dentistry is a recognized dental specialty. In order to practice dentistry on pediatric patients, one must seek an extra two to three years of education once they have received their dental degree. Educating pediatric dentists has a special emphasis on tooth decay and prevention. Studies have shown a direct link between poor oral care and poor social relationships and impaired school performance. Therefore, these specialists will inform their patients on ways to prevent tooth decay, as well as treat existing signs of tooth decay.

Even with primary teeth that will eventually fall out, twice yearly visits with the dentist are just as important to children as they are to adults. And just like internal medicine, pediatric dentists focus specifically on the prevention, treatment, and care of children.