Why a Kid-Friendly Dentist is Important

A kid-friendly dentist is dedicated to children’s oral care from infancy to their teenage years. They have the same training as regular dentists but specialize in the oral health of kids. They can also help parents teach their children how to practice good oral hygiene.

According to the American Dental Association, children should visit a dentist by the time they turn one-year-old or within six months after their first tooth erupts.

The importance of a kid-friendly dentist

A kid-friendly dentist is important for several reasons. Children usually are not very fond of going to the dentist because they are scared of the tools and machines in the office. Kid-friendly dentists deal with children of all ages every day and know how to make children more comfortable than other dentists. The dentist will also help to ensure that the children’s primary teeth stay healthy and free of dental diseases.

Some of the services that kid-friendly dentists provide include:

• Oral exams for children, including risk assessment of decay and cavities for both the child and mother
• Evaluating, diagnosing and treating orthodontic conditions such as crooked teeth, crowded teeth and improper bite
• Preventive measures to reduce the chances of cavities and decay which include dental cleaning and fluoride treatment
• Early detection of oral health problems that could lead to serious oral health problems like asthma, diabetes, congenital heart problems and hay fever
• Repairing damaged or decayed teeth
• Preventing, managing and treating gum and periodontal diseases
• Counseling for the use of pacifiers, and thumb sucking

In addition to the services they provide their patients, kid-friendly dentists also provide parents with tips to help their children practice good oral hygiene.

Benefits of kid-friendly dentists

Due to the convenience of having all their family members going to the same dentist, some parents do not take their children to kid-friendly dentists. Even though the family dentist is qualified to treat all the family members, they cannot provide the level of service a kid-friendly dentist can because they did not specialize in treating children.

Kids can get nervous about going to see the dentist and have a hard time sitting still during their examination. That is usually because they are scared of the tools in the dentist’s office. Kid-friendly dentists are specialists who are extremely patient with children and use certain techniques to make the kids comfortable and keep their minds off the procedure.

Most kid-friendly dentists also stock up on toys, games and activities to keep children busy during their visit. This makes them more willing to go to the dentist’s office in the future.

Another benefit of going to a kid-friendly dentist is the fact that they help the children develop good oral habits. Bad habits like thumb sucking can lead to damage to the roof of the mouth, and a kid-friendly dentist will provide tips on how to get the child to stop sucking their thumb.

Conclusion

Kid-friendly dentists are trained specifically to handle the oral health care of children and help them practice good oral hygiene. If you have kids, make sure you take them to a dentist that is qualified and has a lot of experience treating children.

Request an appointment here: https://www.emersondental.com or call Emerson Dental Associates at (201) 620-9998 for an appointment in our Emerson office.

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