Benefits of a Pediatric Dentist

Dental care is a vital part of caring for overall physical health, and just like with general physical care, great dental care starts young! Developing healthy oral care routines from a young age is an extremely important part of ensuring beautiful and brilliant smiles later on in life. At Beanca Chu DDS, our mission is to provide gentle, child-focused dental care to young patients and parents who want them to have a pleasant experience at the dentist’s office. Good habits that lead to glowing health spring from positive childhood habits, so it’s an excellent decision to choose a specialized pediatric dental clinic that can care for your child’s unique dental needs.

What is a pediatric dentist?

Pediatric dentists are focused on providing specialized dental care to children and teens. Children and teenagers go through many cycles of growth and change before they reach the age of 18, and pediatric dental practices are dedicated specifically to supporting young patients’ dental health. Because this is such an important time for establishing good oral health practices and care rituals, many parents choose to take their children to a pediatric dentist so that they can instill solid routines of oral health for their children’s future.

The Top Benefits of a Pediatric Dentist

There are many benefits of a pediatric dentist. If you’re a parent of a child or teenager, it’s a smart move to find a pediatric dentist that both you and your kids like and trust. That’s where Beanca Chu DDS can help! Here are a few of the benefits of choosing a pediatric dentist over a general dentist for your kids:

Calmer, happier kids

Visiting the dentist can be stressful for kids, especially when they don’t know what to expect from their appointments. Luckily, pediatric dentists are carefully trained to understand and acknowledge the concerns that young patients might have. Pediatric dentists make it their goal to ensure that their patients are completely comfortable during their appointments, which means your kids are more likely to be calmer and happier before, during, and after the appointment. And, as a bonus, they’ll be less nervous to visit the dentist for their next routine dental cleaning!

Specialized training

Pediatric dentists have specialized training in working with young jaws and teeth that general dentists simply don’t have. Because of their specialization, pediatric dentists are better suited to provide safer, more effective, and more comfortable solutions for any of the dental problems that a young patient might experience. As a parent, you can relax knowing that your child’s pediatric dentist is looking out for them and for their future adult smile!

Increased awareness of common childhood habits and oral health issues

Some common habits (like thumb sucking and teeth grinding) can lead to dental issues later in life, whether that be in adulthood or in the teenage years. Pediatric dentists are aware of these habits, and they can help you and your child come up with creative solutions to stop the behaviour and improve oral health. Both young kids and teenagers may have bad habits like this, and a pediatric dentist is the most highly qualified professional to deal with these habits and behaviours gracefully and safely.

Understanding of children’s growth and changes

From birth until the age of 18, a child’s body undergoes many changes. In regard to oral health, the entire jaw moves and changes shape as the child grows into an adult. Because so much change happens so quickly in younger patients, working with a pediatric dentist ensures that your child receives the best care possible during their entire childhood and teenage years. Pediatric dentists are familiar with all the stages of growth a child goes through on the way to adulthood, and they can help ensure a healthy smile at all stages of the process.

What age groups do pediatric dentists work with?

The best time to bring a child in for their first dental appointment is around their 2nd birthday. Although this may seem a bit early to some parents, recent studies show that more and more preschoolers are getting cavities and are therefore in need of early dental care. Because of the risks involved with waiting for your child’s first appointment, bringing them into the offices of Beanca Chu DDS can help ensure that your child maintains excellent oral health while they’re growing and that they develop good oral hygiene habits that will last into adulthood.

Pediatric dentists treat patients up to age 18, at which point a general dentist is qualified to handle most of the dental issues that the child (now an adult) may have. Teenagers also go through many changes, and because they have additional needs related to aesthetics and comfort, taking your teenagers to a pediatric dentist can help make sure that they receive dental care specifically designed for their age and developmental stage.

How to Choose the Right Pediatric Dentist

While it’s up to every parent and their child(ren) to make the final decision, there are some things to keep in mind when you’re looking for the perfect pediatric dentist. We understand at Beanca Chu DDS that choosing the right medical professional for your child is essential. Here are a few factors that we recommend considering when you’re choosing a pediatric dentist:

Clinic environment

A good pediatric dental clinic will have an environment well-suited to children and teens. It should be playful, fun, and have materials in the waiting room that are kid-specific (toys, children’s/teen’s books, and magazines, etc.). These careful touches to the space indicate that the dentist’s practice is indeed focused on the kids and their individual needs. And, a fun space also makes dental visits more enjoyable for your child!

Tactics for dealing with misbehaving children

In any pediatric practice, it’s normal to encounter children who misbehave in one way or another. As a parent, is important to observe your prospective dentist’s reaction to misbehavior. During your first visit with your child to a new pediatric dentist, be aware of how the dentist reacts when and if your child does something out of order. The goal is to find a dentist that handles misbehaving children as calmly and gently as possible.

Medical tool size

Pediatric dentists have smaller medical tools that are designed to fit and work better in smaller mouths. When you make your first visit to a pediatric dentist, take note of the size of the tools that the dentist uses and consider whether or not they’re smaller than the tools at a general dentist’s office. A pediatric dentist should always have the right tools for the job, and if they don’t have the proper sized tools, this is a “red flag” for parents to be aware of.

Good dental health is one of the most important steps toward general physical health, and helping kids develop healthy dental habits when they’re young makes a lifelong difference. At Beanca Chu DDS, we’re committed to offering kid-friendly dental services. We provide a loving, safe environment that puts the needs of children and teens first and we’re happy to guide both parents and children in the right direction.