Even if you have been visiting the same family dentist for the last ten years, if you have a child that needs to now start seeing the dentist, you might not want to take them where you go. Instead, you may want to find a local pediatric dentist that is currently accepting new patients. It can be helpful to understand why that is, so take a few moments to read through the following points.
They Have Child-Friendly Offices
A lot of family dentist offices are rather plain and possibly clinical-looking. This is standard for the dental industry, but that does not make it an inviting place for young children who might already be scared of being there in the first place. However, the office of a pediatric dentist, who caters specifically to children, will be much more vibrant and inviting. It may have colorful walls, funny posters hanging up, and there might even be some toys to check out while sitting in the waiting room.
The Dentist And Staff Have Extra Training
When the patient is young and possibly very scared, it can take more time to get through the checkup and cleaning. The dentist and their staff will be familiar with ways to help their young patients relax. They have the ability to explain things to kids in a way that they understand, and they can even make the entire experience much more enjoyable for your child. If the child needs dental work done, the pediatric dentist will be able to take more time to make the needed repairs, which is important if the child is scared and does not want to sit still the entire time. This will encourage the children to come back for their next cleaning or checkup.
Now that you have a better understanding as to why you will want to consider taking your child to a pediatric dentist instead of a family dentist, you will want to start your search to find one in your area. You will have to make a little list of the names and numbers of the pediatric dentists in your area, call each to see who is accepting new patients at the moment, and see whether they accept your insurance. Once you find one that can schedule an appointment for your child, you will want to go ahead and do that. The sooner your child starts getting into the habit of visiting the dentist for cleanings and checkups, the better.
