Finding a pediatric dentist doesn’t have to be a chore. You can find one by starting your research on the internet, and following up on that research with an appointment to meet the office staff and the dentist. Getting to do that ahead of time will help you be more confident when you take your child for the first time.
Child dentist near me
You might think that you don’t have to worry about taking your child to the dentist until they are at least teenagers, but that could not be further from the truth. You need a pediatric dentist to help your child’s dental health starting in infancy. Tooth decay is so common in kids, it is even more common than asthma. This is the right age to get your kid started on the path to great oral health with a child dentist near me in Miami FL.
Pediatric dentists have gone through some additional schooling after completing their general dental degree to be able to care for the teeth of infants, children, and teens. They are trained to be able to handle the unique needs of children’s smaller mouths and ever changing teeth, something that a general dentistry specialist may not know. They may also be a good choice for parents of special needs children who might be older than 18 but do not interact with the world the way neurotypical children do.
A pediatric dentist will have a kid-centric office that is designed to make infants children feel comfortable about the process and reduce their fears about going to a pediatric dental office. This can be everything from bright happy colors in the office to relaxing spaces for kids to decompress. To find out if the office is the place you want to go, you can schedule an appointment for an initial visit to check out the child dentist near me staff and see what kinds of things they do to improve the dental experience for kids. You can get your questions answered by the dentist and even have an opportunity to get an insurance review.
Before we get into more details about pediatric dentistry and orthodontics, we will pause and take a look at what some of the experts of pediatric dentistry have to say.
Pediatric dentistry is a field of dentistry that is focused on preventative as well as restorative care for infants, children, and teens (Shah S, 2017).
Pediatric dentists know more about dental technology and the behavior of kids so they can provide the best care for kids and special needs patients. They study teeth and facial development to provide the right dental care that kids need (Shah S, 2017).
They are skilled at caring for the dental and developmental needs of children and knowing what to do with any dental conditions or diseases for kids as they grow (Shah S, 2017).
How does a dentist fix dental issues in children? Child dentist near me
Pediatric dentists are able to resolve a lot of dental issues with children. One of the biggest things they do is fill cavities in children’s teeth. Dental caries or cavities are one of the primary dental issues for kids. A pediatric dentist will remove the decay and fill it with a compound, usually a resin compound for kids, as amalgam fillings are used less and less.
A pediatric dental office may do some preventative care like applying dental sealant to the teeth to help reduce the chance of cavities forming. They can also provide fluoride treatments that will help strengthen their teeth.
Some kids have more advanced issues like gum disease or deeper cavities. Pediatric dentists may prescribe antibiotics to help with larger infections as part of these dental treatments. There are times that your child will need a pulpotomy or root canal to care for the deeper decay. Your pediatric dentist will be sure to explain what dental treatment is needed for your child’s unique case.
What is the right age to correct teeth alignment? Child’s dentist near me
The right age to correct your child’s teeth alignment is dependent on what they need. Most orthodontists will recommend that your child get braces between ages 10-14. At this age, their adult teeth are mostly in, and the jawbone matrix has not yet become fully set, so it is easier to move the teeth.
A pediatric orthodontist will review your child’s case and determine the treatment plan that works for them. Each case is different, so there is no set way to say that a certain thing will happen at a certain time. Many teens will actually get their braces later in their teen years, while some might need early care if they have a small jaw and your orthodontist is concerned about whether there will be enough room for the adult teeth to grow in. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that parents take their kids to an orthodontist by about age 7. This gives your orthodontist a chance to examine the jaw, the bite, and the alignment of the teeth.
How long will it take to align teeth with braces? Child’s dentist near me
This is something else that depends on the child. Things like genetics, bone density, strength of the teeth, and what needs to be done will all play a role in the treatment time. For most patients, they can expect to wear braces between 6 months to 2 years, but some may need to wear them for longer.
When patients wear braces, the teeth are being moved through the jaw bone, so it takes time. The braces will apply pressure on the teeth to guide them into their new positions. Trying to move them faster will hurt a lot more and it can even cause damage.
Your orthodontist will be able to provide you with a more definite time estimate during your initial visits so you and your child know what to expect.
If baby teeth are straight, will permanent teeth be straight? Dentist for special needs child near me
The answer is, it might be true. Or it might not be. There are a lot of factors that go into the straightness of teeth. One of the biggest factors is genetics. If your parents had straight teeth, you are likely to as well. Part of it also depends on the size of your jaw and the size of your teeth. You might inherit the jaw size from mom and the size of your teeth from your dad, and that can mean they don’t fit together right.
Caring for the baby teeth and providing good dental care while your child is young will help to keep their milk teeth healthy and free of cavities as well as keep the gums healthy. All of those will also lead to healthy adult teeth.
Losing the milk teeth too soon may lead to the adult teeth still in the jaw growing in crooked, so ensuring that the milk teeth stay until the adult teeth are ready is very important.
Bad habits may also lead to children having crooked teeth or poorly aligned teeth. This includes things like thumbsucking or using pacifiers too long. Sometimes even things like chronic sinus infections can lead to issues with the adult teeth.
But, by visiting your pediatric dentist, you can learn good dental health habits and so can your child. And those habits can mean healthy smiles for life.
Reference:
Shah S. (2017). Pediatric dentistry- novel evolvement. Annals of medicine and surgery (2012), 25, 21–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amsu.2017.12.005