Your Child’s Teeth Need Attention from a Pediatric Dentist

Are you one among the many people who believe children’s teeth do not need any attention from a specialist dedicated to providing dental healthcare for kids? This is a problem encountered throughout America where parents are happy to take their children to the family dentist instead of a pediatric dentist. For unknown reasons people refuse to believe pediatric dentistry is an area of specialization focusing on the treatment of children from birth to adolescence.

Pediatric dentists can provide preventive care and education to the child on the need to take proper care of their dental health and consider prevention and education as important for their practice. They believe you and your child should understand how to become responsible for and protect your child’s oral health. To support their belief pediatric dentists are always available to answer questions about the dental health needs of your child and the services they can provide for the treatment if needed.

How Often Should Children’s Dental Health Be Examined?

Dentistry for children recommends that your child should be receiving a comprehensive dental exam regularly including a thorough examination of the teeth and gums. The findings from the examination will be used to formulate a diagnosis along with a comprehensive treatment plan for your child.

Any recommendations for the treatment will be explained to you during your appointment with the pediatric dentist near me. The goal of the pediatric dentist will be to ensure that you receive the best information regarding your child’s treatment options. The education imparted enables the dental professional to deliver the best outcome for your child’s dental treatment.

Type of Treatments Provided by Pediatric Dentists

Pediatric dentists specialize in providing different types of treatments for children from infancy until adolescence. They can provide the following treatments to your child to keep his or her teeth and gums healthy:

Dental Cleanings

Good oral hygiene begins with routine cleanings for your child with a pediatric dentist. During the appointments, the child will be taught to brush and floss and develop a health care regimen they can carry into adulthood. They also make regularly scheduled cleanings which they consider is a time of discovery for them to locate problem areas that may need special attention. They recommend routine cleanings twice a year for all pediatric patients.

Dental Sealants

Sealants can protect the grooved and pitted surfaces of the back teeth from bacteria and an acidic environment. Most cavities appear on the back teeth and therefore the sealants are applied on them to keep them cavity-free. However, it is not a guarantee that a child will never develop cavities.

Dental Fillings

Cavities are a chronic condition among children in the United States and the only method to treat them is to have fillings placed in the mouths of children whenever cavities are detected. Pediatric dentists are using composites that are made from non-toxic substances and will not be visible in the child’s mouth because of its colorless appearance. Tooth-colored fillings can be used on the back teeth as well as the front teeth making them a good choice for patients that want their fillings to appear natural.

Dental Emergencies

Children are more prone to suffer from dental emergencies like a knocked-out tooth or injuries to the soft tissue. In such cases, you must remain calm and try to locate an emergency dentist or a pediatric dentist open on Saturday in Houston that can provide immediate attention.

Dental emergencies must never be ignored even if it is just a minor chip or crack. The child must receive attention from a pediatric dentist because bacteria can enter the pulp of the chipped or cracked tooth and cause infections. The dentist needs to evaluate the damage and seal the enamel to keep the bacteria out and prevent infection. Injuries to the soft tissue are also serious because they cause bleeding and discomfort. Therefore treatment must be provided to the child as soon as possible from a pediatric dentist.

Are General Dentists Incapable of Treating Children?

It would be a gross injustice to claim that general dentists are incapable of treating children or patients of any age. They can certainly provide the care needed by children but just do not have the experience of dealing with children who may be uncooperative and troublesome during dental visits. They are also not equipped to manage children with special needs. These are special areas that a pediatric dentist is qualified to manage and therefore it must be understood that better care will be received by children from pediatric dentists.