Pediatric Dentistry and its Role

A pediatric dentist is a dental professional trained to provide oral care to infants, teenagers, and adults with special needs. Generally, pediatric care involves the prevention, diagnosis, management, and treatment of diseases of the teeth, mouth, and gums. Unlike a general dentist, a pediatric dentist has a minimum of two years of additional training in pediatric dentistry.

Standard pediatric dental services offered by a pediatric dentist:

• Oral Education

Teaching good oral habits to children is a vital role of a pediatric dentist. The dentist is also responsible for offering oral health tips and guidance to parents or guardians of the young ones. The dentist can teach the importance of proper dental hygiene and habits, proper diet, and much more. Oral education tips include:

• Brush twice a day.
• Floss daily.
• Schedule frequent dental exams and cleanings.
• Avoid damaging habits such as smoking, biting fingernails, or using teeth to open cans.
• Avoid hard, sticky, and crunchy foods.
• Eat healthier and hydrate well.
• Avoid or limit sugary and acidic foods and beverages. If consumed, brush or rinse your mouth afterward.
• Wear a nightguard for bruxism.
• Wear a sports guard during contact sports.
• Seek dental treatment timely.

• Routine dental assessments and cleanings

While it might seem unnecessary or too early to take your child for routine dental checkups and cleanings, it’s essential. Regular dental exams and cleanings help the dentist check the child’s mouth for dental issues and eliminate plaque and bacteria buildup, reducing the risk of developing dental problems such as cavities and gum disease. In the long run, this ensures excellent oral health and saves you and your child huge costs and endless hassles of dealing with oral conditions.

• Preventive dentistry

Preventive care is one of the best ways to protect your child from future dental issues. A pediatric dentist offers preventive procedures such as professional cleaning, sealants, and fluoride treatments. Dental sealants can be applied on the chewing surfaces of the child’s back teeth to prevent plaque and bacteria buildup in their mouth.

Professional cleaning helps eliminate plaque, tartar, bacteria, and other debris from the child’s mouth, which you can’t complete with routine brushing and flossing. Fluoride treatment is essential to strengthen the child’s teeth. Preventive dentistry reduces the likelihood of developing oral issues such as cavities, oral infections, and gum disease.

• Diagnosis

During routine dental exams and cleanings, the pediatric dentist checks your child’s mouth, teeth, and gums for signs of oral diseases. These include cavities, gum disease, overbites, teeth grinding, jaw irregularities, and underbites. If any issue is detected, the pediatric dentist can correct these issues timely, safeguarding your child’s future oral health.

• Dental treatment

If the pediatric dentist identifies any risk factors, they will develop appropriate treatment strategies. The dentist can perform a pulp therapy for teeth decay and offer gum disease treatments. If necessary, the dentist can perform dental works such as dental crowns, fillings, veneers, or bonding. The dentist will refer you to the appropriate dental specialist for complex issues.

Pediatric dentistry and orthodontics

Orthodontic problems such as overbites and crossbites are prevalent among children. Fortunately, since the child’s teeth and jawbone are still growing, these issues can be easily monitored and prevented. Apart from preventive orthodontics, interceptor orthodontics is essential in correcting existing problems.

Early orthodontic treatments among children prevent serious development issues that can affect your child in the future. Contact a child’s dentist near you as soon as possible if your child has a poor bite or any other orthodontic issues. The early the diagnosis, the easier, quicker, and less costly the treatment.

Schedule An Appointment Today

Are you looking for children’s dental treatments, or do you need more information about children’s dental care? Contact Yelena Popkova, DDS, to book your appointment today.