After coming to grips with the last post on teething (excuse the pun); here is a question from the Mommy panel.
"Why did my dentist suggest that I take my 3year old to a peadiatric dentist?"
While a General Dentist will help a child receive the necessary dental care, it will not be as beneficial or specific as a Peadiatric Dentist. One major difference between a General and Peadiatric Dentist is that a Peadiatric Dentist goes through specialized training to treat dental issues within infants, children and patients in their early teens.
Peadiatric Dentistry deals with the oral health of children from infancy to the teen years.
Peadiatric Dentists have the qualifications and experience to care for a child's teeth, mouth and gums throughout the various stages of childhood.
EDUCATION
Peadiatric Dentists have completed at least:
- Five years of dental school;
- One year of community service;
- An additional year of postgraduate training in dentistry for infants, children, teenagers and children with special needs;
- An additional year in a postgraduate residency program, which may result in a certificate or master's degree in Peadiatric Dentistry.
TYPES OF TREATMENT PROVIDED BY PEADIATRIC DENTISTS
Peadiatric dentists provide comprehensive oralcare that includes the following:
- Infant oral health exams, which include risk assessment for caries in mother and child
- Preventive dental care including cleaning and fluoride treatments, as well as nutrition and diet recommendations
- Habit counseling (for example, pacifier use and thumb sucking)
- Early assessment and treatment for straightening teeth and correcting an improper bite (orthodontics)
- Repair of tooth cavities or defects
- Diagnosis of oral conditions associated with diseases such as diabetes, congenital heart defect, asthma, hay fever, and attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder
- Management of gum diseases and conditions including ulcers, short frenulae, mucoceles, and pediatric periodontal disease
- Care for dental injuries (for example, fractured, displaced, or knocked-out teeth)
THE BEST ORAL HEALTH CARE FOR CHILDREN
Children are not just small adults. They are not always able to be patient and cooperative during a dental exam. Pediatric dentists know how to examine and treat children in ways that make them comfortable. In addition, pediatric dentists use specially designed equipment in offices that are arranged and decorated with children in mind.
When your Peadiatrician suggests that your child receives a dental exam, try to find a Peadiatric Dentist in your vicinity.
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