What is Pediatric Dentistry?
Pediatric dentistry or Pedodontics is a specialized branch of dentistry that caters to the oral health needs of infants, toddlers, children and teenagers.
What is a Pediatric Dentist?
Just as pediatric doctors cater to systemic health needs, pediatric dentists care for a child’s oral health needs and associated disorders. In terms of education, pediatric dentists undergo a four-year academic program in a dental school to become a dentist.
This is followed by additional two years of academics, research work and clinical training, which provides them with the skillset and knowledge to examine and treat oral health problems of pediatric patients. Children have unique dental needs than adults due to their growth and development, eruption and shedding of milk teeth, and the subsequent eruption of permanent or adult teeth.
These key differences necessitate the need for additional training to provide pediatric patients and their parents with proper treatment and guidance. A pediatric dentist not only treats dental ailments but is also responsible for maintaining the oral health of a child.
They guide new parents on proper nutrition and feeding patterns to ensure a child’s oral and overall health. Moreover, they are also trained to treat kids with special needs and additional requirements.
What Treatments Do Pediatric Dentists Provide?
General dental examination Ideally, a child’s first dental visit should happen immediately after the eruption of the first tooth or within six months of birth, whichever is earlier. The first visit is more about maintaining your child’s teeth and oral health than actual treatment.
During this appointment, your kids’ dentist will provide you with all the information you need to take care of your little one’s teeth until they are old enough to do it themselves.
They will also guide on proper nutrition and feeding patterns. In addition, they will brief you about the expected normal growth pattern of the jaw and common dental diseases that affect children. Any signs of abnormality or diseases should not be ignored and must be examined swiftly by our pediatric dentist in Markham. Early diagnosis is key to preventing complications and ensuring uninterrupted growth and happy childhood.
Preventive Dental Treatments
One of the most common dental diseases that affect children is dental cavities. Pediatric dentists are responsible for assessing the risk of dental decay in a child’s milk or adult teeth. If they find out that a child has a higher risk of suffering from dental cavities, they will suggest topical fluoride application.
Fluoride is known to strengthen the teeth and make them more resistant to dental decay, thus aiding in preventing dental cavities. Routine teeth cleaning is carried out for bacteria-laden plaque removal, which further helps prevent dental cavities and gum diseases.
Prevention And Treatment Of Misaligned Teeth
In the early stages of a child’s growth period, orthodontic misalignments like crooked and crowded teeth may occur. A pediatric dentist is an expert in preventing and treating such developmental disorders. Timely intervention and regular examination can prevent the need for orthodontic treatments in the future and ensure a proper bite.
Habit Breaking Treatments
Habits like thumb sucking, mouth breathing or tongue thrusting severely affect the growth and development of the jaw and the face. It can also contribute to dental misalignments giving rise to crooked teeth. Therefore, it is of prime importance to handle such harmful and destructive habits with the help of habit-breaking appliances at the earliest.
Treatment of dental injuries The fact is that children will fall and someday may chip or break one or a few teeth. At times, the impact can be enough to dislodge the tooth out of its socket completely.
A broken, fractured or avulsed tooth is a dental emergency and needs the immediate attention of a pediatric dentist. Timely intervention can save a broken tooth and prevent further complications.
Restorative Treatments
Dental fillings, root canal treatments and placement of dental crowns in milk teeth and permanent teeth are essential restorative treatments provided by a kids’ dentist.
Teeth Extraction
At times, conservative treatments fail, and the only option is to remove the tooth. In such situations, a pediatric dentist will perform dental extraction of milk teeth followed by placement of a space maintainer to ensure proper eruption of the succedaneums permanent tooth.
Why Should You Choose A Pediatric Dentist For Your Child?
Pediatric dentists are kid experts and know how to deal with stubborn, reluctant or shy kids efficiently as they are trained in child psychology and behaviour management. A pediatric dentist will always be positive and make maintaining good oral health super cool and fun.
Say hello to good oral health! They can diagnose and treat complex childhood oral health problems and have a grasp on overall health problems that may affect your child. Pediatric dentists are trained to treat kids with unique needs. They are trained to perform conscious sedation to ensure your kids are comfortable and calm during their dental treatment.
- Pediatric dentists are kid experts and know how to deal with stubborn, reluctant or shy kids efficiently as they are trained in child psychology and behaviour management.
- A pediatric dentist will always be positive and make maintaining good oral health super cool and fun. Say hello to good oral health!
- They can diagnose and treat complex childhood oral health problems and have a grasp on overall health problems that may affect your child.
- Pediatric dentists are trained to treat kids with unique needs.
- They are trained to perform conscious sedation to ensure your kids are comfortable and calm during their dental treatment.
If you are a new parent who is confused regarding their child’s oral health, schedule an appointment with us at Bur Oak Dental, Markham and put your mind at ease. Our team of friendly and exceptionally trained kids’ dental professionals is here to assist you.