The History of Dentistry

Finding and Selecting a Dentist for your Child

12 January 2018

Regina Carlson

Whether your child's smile is bright with pearly whites or cute with a gum of freshly-sprouted teeth, regular visits to the dentist can ensure that he/she maintains a healthy smile for a long time. Just as you take finding a pediatrician for your child seriously, you should use the same seriousness in finding a pediatric or children's dentist. This is because finding a dental professional that your child is comfortable with can help you avoid any emergency dental issues as your child grows. So, how do you go about finding and selecting a good dental professional for your child? Here are some tips:

Ask Around

If this is your first child or you are in a new area, one of the best ways to find a reputable dentist for your child is to ask around. Ask other parents in your area and your neighbors for referrals. Your dentist and local pharmacists may also refer credible dental professionals for you to look at.

The dentist's credentials

As a parent, it is only natural that you will want a qualified professional to take care of your child's dental needs. Therefore, it is important to make sure that the children's dentist you choose has the right credentials. For instance, you should find out whether a dentist has undergone further specialized training in pediatric care by looking at his/her documents.

Specialization is important because a dental practitioner who has undergone specialized training in children's dental care is better suited to handle your child's dental needs. For instance, pediatric dentists are well capable of handling children-specific issues such as teeth development difficulties, pacifier use and even thumb sucking.

The environment

One of the most dreaded activities by adults and children alike is visiting a dentist. Therefore, when selecting a children's dentist, consider their 'practice environment' or office. The environment should be warm, lively, welcoming and generally child friendly. For, instance a dental office that has a play area for the kids can bring comfort to children, making a dental visit a less frightening experience.

The staff are also a part of the environment and should, therefore, be child friendly. For instance, it's important that the dental professionals in the office know how to handle a crying and uncooperative child.

An adult's dental needs are handled differently from those of a child's. A child's journey to good dental hygiene must be fun, safe and even educational, hence the need to find and select the right pediatric dentist for your child. 

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