Pediatric Dentist: Why Your Child Should Visit One in Peoria, AZ
You might be surprised to hear that the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Dental Association recommends a first dental visit by age 1, or within 6 months of when a first tooth arrives.
Now, you might be thinking, why would such a young child go to the dentist if they have only one tooth?
Dental health extends well beyond just teeth. In fact, you probably want to consider taking your child to a pediatric dentist.
Sure, you might have a family dentist, but a pediatric dentist will specialize in your child's young mouth much the way a pediatrician specializes in their young body.
So, what can a visit to the pediatric dentist do for your child? Read on to learn more about the many benefits of taking your child to a pediatric dentist.
Pediatric Dentistry — Kid-Sized Care and Comfort
Roughly 36% of the US population has some form of dental anxiety. 12% have severe dental anxiety.
When you start your child out at a pediatric dentist, everything is designed with the child in mind. The pediatric dental office is intended to create a kid-friendly, comforting atmosphere that feels welcoming and safe.
A pediatric dentist knows part of their job is to communicate with the child about their teeth so going to the dentist doesn't need to be an anxiety-riddled experience.
The idea of starting your child at such a young age fosters the level of comfort and ease you want them to feel when they visit the dentist.
Pediatric Dentist Becomes a Trusted Expert
Anytime a doctor, or dentist, specializes, they become an expert of sorts. It means a good chunk of their learning and practice involves focusing on that type of medicine and patient.
A pediatric dentist is a perfect example of being an expert. They focus on caring for the dental health and well-being of young mouths. They learn what works best when it comes to treating young children.
Like you might seek advice from a pediatrician for health-related questions for your child, the same would be true for your pediatric dentist. You can look to them to be the expert on the needs of a young person's dental health.
Pediatric Dentist in Peoria Becomes Dental Home
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry supports the notion of creating the idea of a dental home for your child. We all know and understand the idea of the comforts of home.
Children like and feel safe in places they know well and that are predictable to them. A visit to the dentist should be the same.
The pediatric dental office should have a level of comfort for a child, a place where they know they are safe and there are kind and compassionate people there to support them.
Starting a child young going to the pediatric dentist means they will develop that sense of a dental home with people who make them feel safe and well cared for.
Provide a Dental Education
One important role of the pediatric dentist is to act as a teacher for both parents and kids. Their role should be to teach about oral health, keeping young teeth clean and healthy.
They can also fulfill this role for parents too. Everything from when and how to brush a young mouth, healthy eating, gum health to the impact of thumb sucking or using a pacifier.
They can discuss which products are best to help keep your child's teeth and mouth healthy. They can also act as a coach for your kids in keeping up with their oral hygiene.
Kids understand the concept of an expert. They can look to your pediatric dentist as the expert they should listen to and trust.
Preventative Care
You might have heard the old idiom, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. It certainly applies when it comes to dental care for kids.
Early preventative care can help to avoid potential problems later on. Teaching young kids very early about dental care can mean they keep a healthy mouth and avoid potential problems.
Preventative care can also spot potential problems before they become bigger issues. They can help to prepare you and your child for potential future needs, think the removal of wisdom teeth or orthodontics, for example.
Routine Care
Routine visits to the dentist can help to maintain good dental health.
The simple truth is that kids can be prone to cavities. Getting into the habit of routine visits to the pediatric dentist means the dentist can monitor your child's oral health.
They can evaluate how they're doing with brushing and flossing and even talk with them if there are some issues.
The dentist can also monitor how your child's mouth is changing as they grow. Do their teeth have enough room? Are there any changes in the bite or jaw that raise concerns?
Emergency Dental Care
The scary reality of raising kids is that accidents and surprises happen all the time. You're probably well acquainted with unexpected problems with injury or illness.
Guess what? Those emergencies can happen in their mouth too. Kids in sports get their mouths hit. Teeth get loosened or even fractured.
Having a relationship with a pediatric dentist already means they will know best how to treat a potential emergency when it comes up for your child.
Have Your Child Visit the Pediatric Dentist in Peoria, AZ
As you can see, there are many reasons to have your child visit a pediatric dentist and to have it become part of their overall dental care routine.
If your family needs a family dentist, we are a dentist in Peoria, AZ ready to meet your family's needs. Contact us today to learn more about how our practice can meet the dental needs of your child and the entire family.
