February is Children's Dental Health Month. We're kicking it off with a helpful guide for when it comes time to look for a local pediatric dentist near you. Pediatric dentists are all trained to use child-friendly techniques, tools, and terminology, ensuring a comfortable and stress-free experience. However, they are not all the same. This guide will help you ask the right questions while doing your research to find the right pediatric dentist for your family.
This article is sponsored by Bauer Dentistry and Orthodontics in Wheaton, IL ❤️ Your one stop shop for all of your family's dental needs!
What Is A Pediatric Dentist?
While it’s true that a general dentist is capable of handling your child’s dental needs, a pediatric dentist is trained to use specific techniques that can make a child more comfortable during treatment.
To become a board certified pediatric dentist, a 2-3 year residency in pediatric dentistry is required beyond basic dental school. This is where a dentist will learn the specialized modalities used with children, and is also how he or she becomes certified to administer certain medications and use in-office sedation on children.
Beyond that, the effectiveness of a good pediatric dentist comes down to their demeanor, how they communicate with children, and the level of trust they achieve with their young patients.
What To Look For In A Pediatric Dentist
When you’re searching for dental care for children, there are a few things to know and ask about. The measures a potential pediatric dentist takes to make your child feel safe and comfortable are very important, especially to your child!
Ask about:
- Whether They Use The Tell-Show-Do Method For Procedures. For example, if the dentist wants to examine a child’s teeth, they should tell the child what they are going to do and show them the tools used and how they will look in their mouth, before actually doing those things. This helps a child know what to expect and establishes trust.
- Distractions. TVs playing cartoons on the ceiling, headphones, and cheerful colors and pictures, can all help a child feel more at ease than the sterile environment of exam rooms for adults.
- Restraining Devices. You do NOT want them! Forcing a child to submit to the dentist can be traumatic and create a life-long fear of dental procedures. This is why it’s important to start taking your child to the dentist very young so that they get comfortable with the basic idea of a doctor working inside their mouth.
- Medication And Sedation. For children who are severely anxious, a small amount of nitrous (laughing gas) can be administered to help them relax. When a filling or other restorative work is necessary, a good pediatric dentist will use a strong topical anesthetic to completely numb the injection site, along with a buffered anesthetic solution that does not cause a burning sensation when injected.
- Whether They Use The Gate Control Theory Of Pain. In short, a pressure or vibration is applied at the same time as anesthetic injections. For many patients, young and old, this effectively blocks pain signals from reaching the brain and the injection is virtually imperceptible.
- Parent Policy. Some dental offices have specific policies about whether parents are allowed to accompany their little ones in the back for their first visit, or whether they should remain in the waiting area.
Emphasis on Educating Children About Oral Hygiene
A skilled pediatric dentist prioritizes teaching children the importance of maintaining proper oral hygiene from an early age. They utilize age-appropriate methods to explain critical dental practices such as brushing, flossing, and the impact of diet on oral health. Engaging tools like visual aids, interactive games, and demonstrations ensure children stay attentive and grasp these concepts effectively. Pediatric dentists create a positive environment where children feel empowered to ask questions and practice healthy habits. By fostering a deep understanding of oral hygiene, they instill lifelong routines that help prevent tooth decay, gum disease, and other dental issues as children grow.
Thank you to our Children's Dental Health Month Sponsor, Bauer Dentistry and Orthodontics, for providing us with this helpful information to educate parents on what to look for when choosing a pediatric dentist!
 |
