What to Expect from a Pediatric Dentist

The key to any successful relationship is boundaries and communication and that has never been truer for anyone than it is for the pediatric dentist. While most doctors must contend with patients who don't want to be there and are not cheerful, happy little campers about the process, they at least have patients who understand the expectations upon them as a patient to not do things like bite the doctor or scream for mommy. The pediatric dentist on the other hand has just that type of cliental and a good day is one where they don't get bite trying to look into the mouth of a three year old with attitude and teeth to back it up with.

It comes down to a good relationship between your pediatric dentist and your child for it to work and that is why you need to ensure from the get go your child's doctor understands the basics of successful working relationship with patients who act-well- childish.

Most physicians who specialize in adult patients end their formal education with dental college and go straight into a successful practice based on their skill set as a dentist. For a doctor whose intended cliental is children the education process does not end with the basic dental classes. Today the formal education for a pediatric dentist extends to learning about behavior management and the two components to successfully working with kids which include communication and boundaries.

And if you have experienced positive dental visits with your child you probably can understand more about the reason why it was successful now and are thinking to yourself - if only husbands were also required to take such a course before they were allowed to get a marriage license- oh the inhumanity. But then you would be digressing from the facts.

The facts in this case begin with the need for good dental care for your child that don't leave them hating the visit to the dental office or being known as the "biter" whenever you have to take them in for a checkup or worse- at least from your perspective- being the child who is screaming "mommy" three rooms away and making you cringe behind your magazine with embarrassment.

Start your search for the right child's dental care provider by looking at the dental office from the perspective of your child. Is the waiting room full of activities that your child can participate in like coloring books, puzzles and games? Is the staff kid friendly and approachable?

Does the doctor work to explain what the process is with your child and take the time to ensure your child is comfortable before they begin? Does the doctor explain to your child the expectations on them- such as don't bite if it's uncomfortable?

You don't have to be an expert to understand how a positive relationship works, you just have to listen to your instincts and that can be the best screening process there is to finding a good pediatric dentist.