As if choosing a pediatrician wasn’t a big enough decision to make, now you have to pick a pediatric dentist. Why can’t your child go to a regular dentist? Well, they can, but it is pretty scary for them. Imagine how you would feel sitting in front of a calming, warm glow from a ventless fireplace from a retailer like Ethanol Fireplace Pros. Now, imagine you are sitting in front of your entire house burning. This is the difference between the two types of dentists.
Children respond to their environment. A regular dentist office is sterile and creepy. A pediatric dentist office is typically colorful and fun. Their first visit should take place about six months after their first tooth erupts. So, if your baby was just born, you have a little time. Children should have a visit every six months at least. Some dentists recommend more frequent visits to build up a comfort level.
Care Provided
Regular oral exams, cleaning, and preventative care are the main services provided by a pediatric dentist. However, they should also:
- Provide mouth guards
- Offer habit counseling
- Assess and provide treatment for improper bites and straightening
- Repair cavities and defects
- Diagnose oral conditions
- Treat dental development difficulties
- Manage gum disease
- Care for dental injuries
Questions to Ask
Usually, one visit is all it takes to decide if a pediatric dentist is right for your child. Below is a list of things you should evaluate or find the answers to.
- What does the office look like? Is it clean? Organized? Kid-oriented?
- How friendly is the staff? The dentist may be great, but if the rest of the staff isn’t they may make your child uncomfortable.
- Does the dentist ask questions to get to know you? Have they asked about or addressed your concerns? Are they in a hurry?
- What is the dentist’s availability? Are appointments available that easily fit in your schedule?
- Does the dentist provide dental health instruction? Treating problems is great, but you want someone who focuses on preventing them.
- Are emergency services available? Is there a paging or answering service for emergencies?
- What are the fees? Is your insurance accepted?
Don’t be afraid to visit a few pediatric dentists. This is a huge decision. Ask for referrals from people you know, and read reviews of the dentist you are interested in. Most importantly, if your child doesn’t warm up to them by their second or third visit, don’t think twice about switching.
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5 Comments
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Very nice pointers and explanation. Thank you for sharing. I found the right dentist for my kids in the first go itself at Dr. Amy’s Dental Office in Thousand Oaks, CA. They’re friendly, fun people and know exactly how to make the child feel comfortable and let go of their fears.
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Finding the right dentist was so hard; we searched for years before finally finding Bella Smiles in Sugar Land, Tx.
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Thank you for talking about finding a dentist office that is kept clean and organized. It makes sense that remembering this can help you find someone you can trust and who can take care of you. I would want to find someone who cares about providing the best services and knows how to get the job done right
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I think these are great questions you provided to ask a dentist I am looking to go to. Something that is important to me is making sure they do not seem like they are in too big of a rush and have no time for me. If that is the case then I can’t tell if they will do a good job, or be in a rush when the time comes to working on my teeth. I am planning on visiting a couple of dentists in the next few weeks and will ask them these questions.
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Wow, you started with a very powerful image, that did a great job of putting it all in perspective. I had never thought about how terrifying a visit to a regular dentist can be. But it makes sense that a child really should be seeing a pediatric dentist, who can make things much more comfortable for children specifically. Thanks so much for writing!
