Knowing some tips on locating emergency dentists for yourself or children can make things a lot easier when you need one.

Dental care pediatrics – center pediatric dental care

If you are new to the Miami Florida area, and either because of previous experience or conversation with others or for any other reason, you may be looking to familiarize yourself with dental care pediatrics. It is always great to do your research and find a good pediatric dentist to suit your child’s needs. However, although you may have a great pediatric dentist, there may be a time where you may require emergency dental care for your infants, children, and teens. In that case, it is important to know how to locate an emergency dentist.

You may find that you have researched or you may be thinking of researching words such as

‘dental care pediatrics in Miami FL,’ ‘dental health,’ ‘children and adolescents’ oral health, ”pediatric dentist,’ ‘pediatric dental care near me’, or many more terms.

Why should we visit pediatric dentistry? What are its benefits?

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children should have their first visit with the pediatric dentist by 6 months of age or when the first tooth erupts, and regularly from then on. At each of these sessions, the dentist may be likely apply protective fluoride varnish on the child’s tooth.

Additionally, if your pediatric dentist deems that the child is at risk for tooth decay, then they may prescribe fluoride supplements to minimize this risk. However, not every parent follows this guideline and so may find themselves in a situation requiring an emergency pediatric dentist.

Furthermore, pediatric dental care involves preventative dental care, such as comprehensive exams, dental cleanings and protective dental sealants, as well as diagnostics for early detection of issues while they’re still quick and easy to fix.

Children can have a range of problems such as cavities, dental injuries, or bad habits that contribute to bad oral health like thumb sucking, and your child’s dentist can help treat these issues.

Pediatric dentists can show kids why good oral health is important and can educate parents on creating a suitable oral hygiene routine at home and maintaining good oral habits, including the need for a fluoride toothpaste, preventing tooth decay, and how to care for their child’s permanent teeth.

For example, unlike adults, children only need a pea sized amount of toothpaste to brush their teeth effectively and the pediatric dentist can provide this education and more.

In general, if you regularly take your child to a pediatric dentist, then your child is likely getting the best dental care for their oral health and will likely not require an emergency dentist. However, this is not set in stone and for whatever reason children may need to visit the emergency dentist.

According to recent research, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many people were unable to access emergency pediatric dentistry for fear of contracting the disease and also due to a shortage of pediatric dental specialists. This severely, and painfully, affected children worldwide due to severe unmet dental needs (Samuel SR et al, 2021).

In fact, it is possible that some people might still be unable to visit pediatric dentists for that very reason. However, evidence shows that pediatric dentistry is safe to perform in these times as it was when it was performed pre-COVID (Samuel SR et al, 2021).

Fortunately, one can find an emergency center for pediatric dental care with the right planning. Additionally, parents should not have to worry that a doctor might send their child away from the emergency room in pain. It is the primary duty of the doctor to alleviate pain and suffering of a patient; and with appropriate assessment, screening, triage, and use of recommended personal protective equipment, children should be able to receive adequate care (Samuel SR et al, 2021).

How does an emergency dentist differ from a general dentist? Dental care pediatrics

A dentist who has emergency training is an emergency dentist. Emergency dentists undergo the same education and preparation that a general dentist does. In addition, they are also required to undergo additional training in emergency services. They are also typically staffed in hospitals, urgent care facilities or even emergency dentist offices. An emergency dentist is perfect for patients who require immediate attention for an injury to the mouth or jaws.

On the other hand, a general dentist generally treats all kinds of oral health problems and may even treat pediatric patients. Here are some things one can expect at a visit to a general dentist:

• Dental check-up appointments
• Dental restorations such as fillings or crown placement
• Teeth whitening
• Limited orthodontic care with Invisalign
• Dental cleanings
• Root canals

 

While a general dentist is great, some parents may still not be convinced of their child’s need to see a pediatric dentist and may want to take them to the family dentist. However, children are not miniature adults and so cannot be treated in the same way. A pediatric dentist is a dental specialist who is specifically trained to treat children and the unique dental issues that a child may have.

For example, a pediatric dentist is a specialist in helping your child with thumb sucking, and preventing and treating tooth decay with root canals for example.

How can pediatric dentistry help in thumb sucking? Pediatric dental care near me

If your child has fallen into the bad habit of sucking their thumbs, your pediatric dentist will be the best person to help. The pediatric dentist can figure out if there’s any damage or potential damage that could be incurred by the bad habits and how to stop them. A pediatric dentist can also provide you with tips to deter the child from the bad habit. If a child engages in the habit of thumb sucking, the pediatric dentist can help parents understand at what ages the habit is still considered normal and at what stage should the habit be actively eliminated.

Why are multiple sessions needed for the root-canal treatment? Pediatric dental care

Tooth decay and cavities can be common both to adults and children. Generally, a root canal is used to remove the infected area although it is not easily performed in children under the age of 12. However, in some cases it might be necessary for younger children. If you or your child have tooth decay or cavities and require a root canal, your dentist might have informed you of the potential need for multiple sessions.

This information might be surprising to some parents who may not understand why multiple sessions are required. The National Institutes of Health explains root canals. Also known as “endodontic treatment”, root canals are used to remove bacteria and dead – or dying – tissue from deep inside the tooth.  If there is tooth decay, several root canal sessions are necessary to prevent complete removal of the tooth.

Sometimes multiple sessions may be necessary to complete the treatment if the damage is more extensive than initially thought. In general, the average root canal treatment will be over two sessions to ensure the tooth is well cleaned, and protected from further damage.

Reference:

Samuel, S. R., Mathew, M. G., Suresh, S. G., Varma, S. R., Elsubeihi, E. S., Arshad, F., Elkareimi, Y., Elsahn, N. A., & Khalil, E. (2021). Pediatric dental emergency management and parental treatment preferences during COVID-19 pandemic as compared to 2019. Saudi journal of biological sciences, 28(4), 2591–2597. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2021.02.002