What is Pediatric dentist (Children’s Dental Specialist)?
Pediatric dentist or a children’s dental specialist is one who takes care of all the dental complaints that arise in infants, toddlers, and children. Treatments provided by a pediatric dentist include surgical treatments, dental procedures (major/minor) and behavioral therapies. Behavioral therapy is provided for children who have the habit of thumb sucking. Infants start to develop teeth as early as 6 months. From this stage on, there is a need to maintain good oral health as infants are also susceptible to dental cavities. It is a fact that breastfeeding babies are also at a risk of tooth decay as the sugars in breast milk can cause tooth decay. Tooth decay can lead to tooth breakdown and erosion of dental enamel. Infants, toddlers, and children need appropriate oral and dental care from experienced children’s dental specialists in order to ensure proper development of teeth. This is necessary to have a healthy set of permanent teeth.
Why do you need to consult a children’s dental specialist?
Primary dentition or the eruption of teeth is an important phase of a baby. It is often accompanied by diarrhea. However, proper development of primary teeth is important to learn to speak, to eat, and for overall growth.
Improper development of teeth can cause infections, swelling, and pain. That is why it is important to visit a children’s dental specialist at this stage. As they grow up, they are susceptible to many other dental problems including:
- Gingivitis (gum inflammation)
- Gum disease
- Teeth grinding
- Dental abscess
- Tooth decay
- Tongue thrusting
- Thumb sucking
- Fluorosis
- Enamel defects
- Teeth eruption problems
- Hypodontia/Hyperdontia/Anodontia
In order to treat these conditions, one should consult a pediatric dentist or a children’s dental specialist.
What are the procedures done by a children’s dental specialist?
A children’s dental specialist is trained for treating dental problems in children. Apart from medical specialization, a pediatric dentist also needs to understand child psychology. This is to ensure they are made comfortable during the treatment as children tend to be intimidated by dental procedures.
In order to treat the various dental diseases that arise in children, pediatric dentists perform procedures like:
- Fluoride treatment
- Tooth extraction
- Root canal treatments
- Pulpotomy
- Dental fillings
- Dental sealants
- Crowns
- Braces or other orthodontic treatments for misaligned teeth
- Periodontal treatment
In order to treat these conditions, one should consult a pediatric dentist or a children’s dental specialist.
What are the benefits of a children’s dental specialist?
A pediatric dentist is someone who has specialized in treating all the dental diseases in children. Consulting a pediatric dentist early on ensures that there is proper development of primary and permanent teeth.
With regular dental examinations by a pediatric dentist, one can detect the presence of any dental abnormalities and provide timely treatment.
As children grow up, any misalignment of teeth, space between teeth, crooked teeth and bite issues become more prominent. These issues can be addressed in early stages so that your children get the desired appearance.
