Cavities are the most common oral health problem among children, with about 20% suffering from at least one tooth decay. Although the condition is preventable in many cases, about 85.9% of children between 2 and 17 visited a dentist in 2018. Such high rates of oral health problems among children have led to child dental specialist practice flourishing.
If you, too, have kids and are wondering what’s different about a children’s dentist than one who treats adults, read on. This article provides a list of everything you need to know about them.
Education
A dentist goes to dental school, gets a degree in general dentistry, and can start treating patients under the guidance of an experienced professional. Before treating children, a child dental specialist will have to get an additional degree specializing in kids’ oral health. Apart from dental education, they need to know a little about child psychology and how to communicate with special needs children. Children often get anxious about visiting a dentist, and they need to ease those fears before beginning treatment.
Provide Proper Treatments
Pediatric dentists specialize in infant oral exams, counseling healthy oral habits to parents and children, preventive care and nutrition advice, early assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. Dentists also handle the orthodontist part of oral care, such as correcting malocclusion, straightening teeth, treating under and overbite, and improving misaligned jaws.
Pediatric dentists face the biggest challenge in diagnosing and treating children with pre-existing conditions such as diabetes, asthma, heart defect, or attention deficit. It requires them to train in child psychology to counsel children and parents on treatment protocol and care needs.
Educate Parents About Child Oral Care
Most parents assume that since baby teeth will fall off, they do not need much care. A child dental specialist’s role is to educate parents about the importance of oral health right from infanthood. It includes cleaning the baby’s gums with a soft wet cloth after every meal. Once the baby’s teeth erupt, caring for them is equally essential as it helps the child speak correctly, chew thoroughly, and have a beautiful smile.
Since children are learning these things, ignoring any anomalies in baby teeth can result in children forming improper oral habits. In addition, if a tooth falls off prematurely, care should be taken so that the permanent tooth erupts correctly and is aligned with all the remaining teeth.
Provide Preventive Care
Each child is unique and needs separate dental care. Regular visits to a pediatric dentist will ensure that they provide preventive care techniques designed to meet your child’s oral care needs. Children who have a habit of sucking their thumbs are at risk of getting an overbite when upper teeth protrude. Your dental specialist can provide counseling to you and your child to ensure that they give up the habit.
The role of a child dentist is critical in maintaining your child’s oral health. From infants to teens, they can treat several conditions, provide counseling to parents and children on preventive care, and provide reactive care packages to help overcome dental problems.
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