Pediatric Dentist in Houston, Tx 77042
What Is a Pediatric Dentist?
A pediatric dentist specializes in treating the teeth and mouths of children up to 18 years of age. These dentists are trained to work with children as little at 6 months when their first baby teeth start to poke through. They have the training to care for a child’s teeth, gums, and overall mouth health from infancy through the teen years.
What Training Does a Pediatric Dentist Have?
Pediatric dentists attend four years of dental (medical) school and then follow that with a 2-year residency program. The education and training provides them with hands-on training and experience working with children in the field. They learn about what diseases are most prevalent in children and how to treat them. They also learn how to best work with children as many times the dentist can be intimidating to a young child.
What Services Do Pediatric Dentists Provide?
- Infant oral health examinations
- Cleaning and fluoride treatments, as well as nutrition and diet recommendations, are all part of preventive dental care.
- Counseling for bad habits (thumb sucking)
- Teeth straightening and bite correction treatment
- Cavities and flaws in teeth can be repaired.
- Oral conditions associated with diseases such as hay fever, asthma and diabetes.
- Gum disease diagnosis including ulcers, mucoceles, and pediatric periodontal disease
- Dental injuries that must be treated (knocked-out teeth)
Why Should You Visit a Pediatric Dentist?
- A pediatric dentist can examine an infant’s first tooth in a safe and painless manner. Because baby teeth begin to form as early as one year of age, proper tooth development requires the services of a pediatric dentist. The sooner a parent brings their child to the dentist, the better.
- Parents may be aware that certain foods can be dangerous to their child’s dental health, but they don’t know that pacifier use and thumb sucking is also harmful. At the appropriate time, a pediatric dentist can help parents in avoiding these habits with their child.
- A pediatric dentist can provide a relaxing and kid-friendly environment during the actual visit. In the waiting room, children will feel more at ease.
- Oral hygiene will differ depending on age because children’s teeth are still developing. A pediatric dentist can counsel the child on the most effective and health-promoting oral hygiene practices. Instead of using the same fluoride toothpaste as adults, children should brush their teeth with a soft toothbrush.
- Pediatric dentists employ tools that are specifically designed for the treatment of children’s teeth. Pediatric dentists recognize that children are not fully grown adults and require different treatment methods than adults, in addition to providing a welcoming environment for them.