Reasons to See a Pediatric Dentist

There are several reasons why your child needs to see a pediatric dentist at least twice a year. First, tooth decay is a real risk because of sugary diets and inconsistent brushing and flossing. Second, a pediatric dentist identifies and corrects potential oral health issues early. We spoke to The Smile Generation®-trusted pediatric dental team to get answers to your questions about pediatric specialists and your child's oral health. You can take our Mouth-Body Connection® Quiz with your child by clicking on the link.

Pediatric dentists are the pediatricians of dentistry. A pediatric specialist has two to three years of specialty training following dental school and limits their dental practice to treating children only. In other words, we are primary and specialty oral care providers for infants and children through adolescence. Pediatric specialists are also specially trained to treat children with special needs like autism spectrum disorder.

To avoid dental problems and ensure your child's oral health, your child should see a pediatric dentist when their first tooth appears. At least no later than their first birthday. Smile Generation's goal is for your child to be cavity-free for life. Evaluating risk factors and frequent checkups can help us make that goal a reality.

The typical age range of patients that see pediatric dentists are between the ages of 0 to 18 years old. Click here to read more about a baby teeth guide and caring for your baby's teeth.

We recommend checkups every six months to prevent cavities and other dental problems. However, your pediatric dentist can tell you when and how often your child should visit based on their individual oral health needs.

There is no reason for your child to fear visiting the dentist. A parent's demeanor and how they present a dental office visit to the child are vital in breaking the dental fear cycle. Pediatric dentists take pride in ensuring that your child has a positive experience at the dental office and grows up looking forward to their visits. A solid oral health foundation will set your child up for a lifetime of excellent dental health!

Your children must make the transition into being diligent about their oral hygiene at a young age. Therefore, you must find the right pediatric dentist to care for your child's oral health. It is vastly different than an adult going in for regular cleaning. Why is this the case? Well, your child's teeth are significantly different from those of an adult. Smile Generation recommends that your child receive their first checkup at the age of two (2). Admittedly, many parents feel a checkup at 2-years old seems a bit soon. Still, early detection of baby teeth issues is vital to stopping problems down the road. For example, dental issues like malformation and tooth decay need to be diagnosed and taken care of immediately before the situation worsens. It is also the ideal age for your child to learn to brush their teeth properly.

Our Pediatric Dentists went through rigorous and meticulous training to be specialists in pediatric dentistry. As a result, their training allows them to provide the specialized care children need related to their dental needs. Smile Generation makes sure it is fun for your child but that they understand the importance of good oral health, too. Of course, your child will receive routine cleaning, but their visit to the dentist includes much more than a cleaning. Our pediatric dentists' main goal is to educate both you and your child on good and bad dental habits.

Our pediatric dental team is available as a resource to parents for your infant, toddler, and young children's dental concerns. Often, new parents find this helpful because everything is brand new! Your child's dental health is of the utmost importance to us. Choosing the best pediatric dentist will help give your child the gentle, compassionate dental care they need to have smiles that last for a lifetime. The Smile Generation can help find a pediatric dentist near you.