Who is a pediatric dentist and what does he do?

A dentist, in the simplest terms, is a dental doctor. A pediatric dentist is a dental doctor who specializes in treating children’s teeth. You’ve probably heard some heartbreaking stories stemming from visits to the dentist. Well, you’ll be forgiven for being apprehensive, but honestly, go with an open mind.

A pediatric dentist cares for children’s teeth from infancy through the teen years. They are trained not only to care for children’s teeth, gums and mouths; they are also trained to handle children while handling treatment.

baby teeth

The first set of teeth appears in the first 6 months of life.

· Then they begin to lose them from the age of 6. It seems that 6 is the lucky (… or unlucky) number when it comes to children and teeth.

Milk teeth, as they are commonly known, are replaced by permanent teeth. Secondary (permanent) teeth come with their own set of problems, and if not cared for properly, cavities and oral disease can be constant companions. If you’ve ever had a toothache, you know you don’t want that. The bread is beyond horrible.

Childhood dental caries is a very common infectious disease in children. Pediatric dentists are equipped to handle these issues competently and calmly. Calm is of the utmost importance in the consultation of a pediatric dentist.

Training

Training for pediatric dentists includes:

• Four years of dental school.
• Two years of residency in pediatrics. This includes dentistry for infants, children, adolescents, and children with special needs.

Type of treatments provided by pediatric dentists

They are in charge of all types of health care and maintenance of the dentition of children and adolescents. These include the following:

· Habit counseling – This has to do with habits that affect the teeth, such as pacifier use and thumb sucking.

Risk assessment: oral health checks for babies to assess the risk of caries in both the child and the mother

Orthodontics – Teeth alignment and bite checks

Preventive care – Cleaning and fluoride treatment, and nutritional counseling

Repair – Dental defects and cavities

Management – Conditions such as canker sores, mucoceles and periodontal disease, braces and gum disease

Diagnosis: Oral conditions arising from complications caused by ailments and conditions such as asthma, diabetes, hay fever, ADHD, and congenital heart defects.

Dental care: especially for dental injuries such as knocked out, fractured, and displaced teeth

A pediatric dentist offers expertise in children’s dental care and is equipped with skills to ensure that the child’s dental experience does not turn into a traumatic experience that fills them with fear at the mention of the dental clinic.