When it’s time to take your kids to the dentist you may be faced with the choice between choosing a family dentists or pediatric dentists. But what really is the difference between the two? Does it really matter for your child?
Just like everything, there are pros and cons to both, but here are some important differences that may make your choice more clear.
Focus On Baby And Adult Teeth
The biggest difference between pediatric dentists and family dentists is the experience working with baby teeth and adult teeth. Children often start to lose teeth around age 6 which means that they will have a mixture of baby and adult teeth. Pediatric dentists are trained to work with these two types of teeth at the same time.
Pediatric dentists are also trained in children anatomy of their developing jaw and growth of teeth. These dentists can suggest the best way to solve problems, help adult teeth come in correctly and that their oral development is on track.
Knowledge Of Child Behavior
Dental work can be scary for adults, let alone for children. Choosing a pediatric dentist knows children and are trained in behavior guidance techniques to help ease fear. Pediatric dentists can help talk to your child about their oral health and make them feel that they know what is going on.
Family dentists may be able to help keep kids calm, but are not especially trained. Family dentists offices are also treating all kinds of patients, including adult wisdom teeth removal or root canals, which could be scary for children.
Kid Friendly Environment
Pediatric dentist offices are designed to be kid friendly. Since they only treat children, it is much more likely that the office is designed with children in mind. Some design aspects are soothing paint colors, TV’s with children’s shows or movies, play areas, prizes, child friendly décor and even stuffed animals that can be shown to children to help with proper brushing.
At Mountain View Pediatric or The Moose Dentist, you can take a virtual tour of our office on our website to see if we are right for you.
Specialized Equipment For Children
Since children’s mouths and teeth are smaller than adults, pediatric dentists have special tools that are designed for these smaller mouths. This helps teeth cleaning or x-rays to be less painful for child patients because the equipment is better fit for small mouths. This can also help reduce the fear that children may have about dental care. Pediatric dentists are also able to customize treatment plans for children. Making a preventative plan for children is important for pediatric dentists so that children’s oral development is on track.
Dental Emergencies
When dealing with children, there can be dental emergencies from rough play or sports. Pediatric dentists plan for this and can provide emergency care for children at a moment’s notice.
Working With Our Pediatric Dentists
Our mission is to provide a fun and safe environment for children. We want their experience to be positive. Our dentists treat their patients like their own children and treat them with patience and compassion. You can call our office in Pleasant View or Farmington to learn more or schedule an appointment today.
