Pediatric Dentist vs. Family Dentist

A common question asked by parents is what the difference is between a pediatric dentist and a family dentist. To put it simply, a pediatric dentist specializes in handling dental problems specific to children as well as understanding their needs. A family dentist may also be the same, but not every family dentist has familiarity in dealing with children.

Why Dentists Urge Early Oral Care for Children

Proper oral hygiene should start the moment a child’s first set of teeth erupts. In fact, even before teeth eruption, the mother should practice cleaning a child’s gums to prevent infection. The effects of not having proper oral hygiene could lead to a rude awakening in the form of cavities and toothaches.

It also doesn’t help that kids usually associate dental visits with pain, so they choose to keep mum about any sort of discomfort they feel in their mouths rather than tell their parents about it, until the toothache worsens.

Role of a Pediatric Dentist in Children’s Oral Health

The first set of teeth that will erupt from a child’s gums is expected to fall out at a certain point. In the process, however, proper oral care must be diligently practiced to protect the child’s future dental wellness. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recently released a report highlighting the importance of caring for your little one’s teeth.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), dental caries is one of the most common diseases among children, occurring five times more often than asthma and seven times more than hay fever. Furthermore, the CDC adds that 42% of kids have cavities in their baby teeth, while 21% had some in their permanent teeth.

How to Take Care of Your Children’s Teeth

Your children’s dental health is an important consideration while they’re growing up. Every parent wants to ensure that their children develop good oral habits to prevent a myriad of dental problems and health complications that could arise from the presence of a major dental disease. To provide the best care for your children early on, it is always best to consult with their pediatric dentist for proper care throughout their growing years.

Pediatric Dentists: Born Out of Necessity

General dentists cater to teeth of all ages. As they deal with families all the time, these dentists know how to treat teeth of each family member, from the father all the way down to an infant. If a general dentist is near you, is there still a need for one with more specialized training, namely a pediatric dentist?

Pediatric dentistry was born out of necessity, as with just about every invention humankind has ever made. Simply put, children have needs different from adults and the elderly. A general dentist may be trained to handle kids, but pediatric dentists take it to a higher level because of their specialized training.

Keeping a Child’s Smile Safe in Sports

Many children are into sports like football, soccer, and even martial arts. These same children, however, are also susceptible to injuries that may or may not require medical attention. Dental emergencies are also common among young kids, particularly those who enjoy contact sports.

A common dental emergency in sports is a knocked-out tooth due to an errant elbow or other blow to the area of the mouth. In such cases, the child’s guardian should pick up the tooth by the crown, store the tooth in a container of milk, and immediately seek the help of a dentist.

Helping Children Recover from Dental Extraction

Dental extractions are typically done on adults, but your children could also benefit from this treatment. In general, pediatric dentists might end up taking out baby teeth if they don’t allow enough space for the growth of permanent teeth. After the procedure, you should see to it that your child recovers quickly.

Philly Kids are Most Vulnerable to Tooth Decay

According to the St. Christopher’s Foundation for Children, about 25 percent of all children in the country aged two to five suffer from a dental disease. However, some cities like Philadelphia have it much worse: approximately 80 percent of all kids of the same age group in North Philly have untreated dental diseases, particularly tooth decay. One contributor to this statistic is that some schools in the area have either closed down or cut down on their staff, staff who could have very well given them access to dental exams.