What to Look for in a Pediatric Dentist

Young patient with pediatric dentist and dental assistant

Your family’s health is always the first thing on your mind. When it comes to their oral health and hygiene, you want the best for them. That means when it comes time to find a dentist for your children, you want the best pediatric dentistry has to offer.

Download “What’s the Difference between a General Dentist & a Pediatric Dentist?” Whitepaper 

What are your children going to need that a dentist for adults can’t provide? After some research, you’ve learned the difference between a dentist and a pediatric dentist, and now armed with that knowledge, you’re ready to go out into the world to find the best pediatric dentist for your family.

Here are the things to look for in a pediatric dentist.

Education

A pediatric dentist earns their dentistry degree and then spends several more years focusing on pediatric dentistry. This includes learning all about early childhood education and how best to work with kids. They are comfortable with a screaming child or one that wants to ask a thousand questions.

Having an education in pediatric dentistry means your dentist was committed, not just to dentistry, but to children as well.

Child-Friendly Office

As soon as you walk in a pediatric dentist’s office, you know you’re in a place for children. There are bright colours on the wall, fun pictures, and a box of toys in the waiting room. In the big chair, there may be pictures on the ceiling for your child to look at while the dentist works on their teeth.

All this goes a long way to putting children at ease and ready for their visit to the dentist.

Child-Sized Equipment

It’s a small difference but it makes a big impact. Adults have larger mouths than kids. A dentist with equipment sized for their smaller mouths means you have a medical professional who understands the uncomfortable nature of going to the dentist (and how kids are often afraid).

Every little step towards making their experience less uncomfortable and less frightening is a positive one.

A Warm, Inviting Atmosphere

You will get a sense that this place is for your kids when the employees are friendly and introduce themselves to your children as well as you. By greeting you first, then your kids, it shows any nervous children that their parent is okay with this situation and that they are important, too.

By asking questions about their likes and hobbies, the frontline staff can feed this information to the dentist who can start by asking questions about their hobbies to create a quick rapport to build on.

A Focus on Teaching

An important part of pediatric dentistry is teaching children about each instrument, treatment, and process they’re about to go through. A dentist that focuses on this educational piece will put children at ease and make a trip to the dentist not only less threatening, but interesting, too!

This will also become important when it comes to encouraging children to take on good oral hygiene habits. It’s not enough just to tell kids to do something; teaching them why they should do it and making it fun will make them more likely to embrace it.

Toys and Prizes

As good as your kids are, knowing that a prize awaits them at the end of a good check-up is encouragement to cooperate. A pediatric dentist’s office that offers a prize at the end of an appointment is an office that knows how to work with kids and make the experience more pleasant.

If you want to ensure your family has a competent, considerate, and exceptional dentist, consider these elements when seeking the right dental offer for your family. There are many dentists out there, but some are exceptional and experienced at dealing with kids and will provide your family with the best service.

 

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