What Is Pediatric Dentistry?

Did you know that there are different disciplines of dentistry? We are all familiar with a regular dentist, but one of the specialist branches of dentistry that not many people are familiar with is pediatric dentistry,

Pediatric dentistry is geared towards the examination, management, and treatment of children’s dental health. To be a pediatric dentist requires extra levels of skills training in order to identify different dental conditions many children have.

Moreover, pediatric dentists are also trained to understand overall children’s development and how to properly interact with them. To learn more about what pediatric dentistry is and what exactly makes pediatric dentists unique, please keep on reading below for more!

What Is Pediatric Dentistry?

Pediatric dentistry deals with the oral health of children. Pediatric dentists are specially trained to manage common conditions found in children. Some of these conditions may include:

1). Teething Problems 

Teething problems are often experienced by infants, especially if teething has been delayed. Pediatric dentists are tasked to ensure that the teeth and jaws are developed appropriately so that infants can gradually begin experimenting with solid foods. 

2). Misaligned Teeth or Malocclusion

Malocclusion occurs when the top and bottom rows of teeth do not meet when the jaws are closed. This often leads to problems in speech and eating. Pediatric dentists address this problem by adding braces. 

3). Dental Caries or Tooth Decay

Cavities and tooth decay are another common dental condition. This is because children are generally inclined to eat sugary foods which are considered one of the main causes of cavities and decay. This is a very common condition that pediatric dentists encounter. 

Pediatric Dentists

Pediatric dentists undergo a bit more training than general dentists do. They complete four years of dental school and undergo a specialised course afterwards—an additional two more years of residency training for dentistry in infants, children, teens, and children that have special needs. 

In this course, pediatric dentists work closely with children who have urgent dental needs and conditions. They are also trained to conduct various orthodontic teeth-straightening methods.

Pediatric dentists work closely with pediatricians (since they undergo hospital training) and general dentists. Because of this, they become even more qualified to conduct different types of treatments such as:

• Oral health exams, in which a risk assessment is carried out for caries in both the mother and the child.
• Dental care to prevent unhealthy dental conditions. These measures include cleaning treatments and nutrition or diet recommendations.
• Counselling for common infant habits such as pacifier usage and thumb sucking.
• Reparation of tooth cavities, defects, or dental injuries such as fractured or displaced teeth.
• Diagnosis of oral conditions that are linked to other diseases such as asthma, diabetes, heart defects, attention deficits, or hyperactivity disorders.
• Treating and managing oral diseases such as ulcers, mucoceles, pediatric periodontal disease, and more. 

General Dentists Versus Pediatric Dentists

General dentists are also qualified to manage the oral health of children, as they are also trained in pediatric dentistry in dental school. 

As mentioned earlier, the main difference lies in the fact that pediatric dentists undergo a special program of an additional two more years of residency where they work closely with general dentists and pediatricians through hospital training. 

There are some general dentists that are comfortable treating small children since they do serve families. However, there are also many benefits to bringing your child to a pediatric dentist. 

The Benefits of Going To A Pediatric Dentist

Pediatric dentists primarily focus on prevention and treatment methods. They undergo a specialised program to specifically cater to the oral and dental health of children, which makes their knowledge on the care of primary teeth much more comprehensive. 

Moreover, pediatric dentists are concerned not only with treating children but educating parents on dental hygiene habits for children. As they work in dental schools and have hospital training, they also help conduct more research on how to develop more innovative preventative measures for oral health problems.

In addition to this, going to the dentist may seem daunting, even for adults. As such, pediatric dentists are trained to deal with children’s behaviour, so they can help ease any discomfort or fears your children may have.

Final Thoughts

As we can see, pediatry is very specialised and covers a number of different elements in relation to the oral health of children and other conditions that can affect children beyond general dentistry.

If you are searching for a dental clinic in the Cranbourne area for your child then look no further than Shine Dental Group.

Shine Dental Group offers a full array of dental services to help you and your family maintain healthy teeth and are a trusted and reliable dentist in Cranbourne.

To learn more about our services or make an appointment, please contact us today on (03) 5995 9789 or check our profile via find a dentist near me.