Dental care is just as important for very young children as it is for older children or adults. In fact, it is a good idea to take your child to a dentist by the time they are one year old. But general dentists don't treat young children. Dental care for babies, toddlers, and older children is usually the realm of a pediatric dentist. Pediatric dentists undergo an additional two to three years of dental training.
Pediatric dentists know how to put children at ease as they offer the following types of dental care.
Early Preventive Dental Care
Pediatric dentists recommend that you take your child to see them once every six months. This will help your dentist to protect your child's teeth from cavities and tooth sensitivity.
Pediatric dentists can perform preventive measures like fluoride treatment to fight enamel erosion, and dental sealants to protect young teeth against cavities.
Dental Education
Regular visits to a pediatric dentist are important for educational reasons too. A pediatric dentist can teach a child how to brush and floss their teeth properly. And a pediatric dentist can teach children about cavities and the role that sugar plays in creating cavities.
Dental Cleanings
A common problem among young children is plaque and tartar. When plaque stays on teeth for too long, it hardens and becomes tartar. Both plaque and tartar can cause enamel erosion, which leads to cavities. Brushing cannot remove tartar. Only a dental cleaning can remove tartar from the surface of teeth. Teeth cleanings can protect children's teeth from cavity formation.
Fillings and Crowns
If a pediatric dentist catches a cavity early, they need only use a dental filling to fill the cavity. This will halt the cavity and prevent sensitivity. But if much of a child's tooth suffers damage due to tooth decay, then a pediatric dentist can place a dental crown over the tooth to protect it from further damage.
Monitoring of Jaw Growth and Oral Habits
A pediatric dentist will check on the progress of a child's jawbone growth during dental checkups. During the checkup, pediatric dentists look for signs that indicate harmful oral habits that might affect jawbone growth, such as thumb sucking. These habits can lead to the need for orthodontic care later in a child's life. So, a pediatric dentist can spot these habits and help put a stop to them.
Extraction
Although pediatric dentists try to save primary teeth whenever they can, sometimes, removal is the best option. But they can help to preserve the space for adult teeth by placing space holders into the gap left after tooth extraction.
Babies and toddlers can benefit from dental care too. Find a reputable pediatric dental clinic near you so that you can protect your child's teeth from an early age.
