There is no denying that your young child should be making a trip to the dentist by the age of 12 months. Seeking early and regular dental care – despite the missing presence of a full mouth of teeth – is highly recommended in setting the foundation for a lifetime of oral health.
This leaves most parents with the question: should my kid see a pediatric dentist or a general dentist?
While pediatric dental offices may be designed specifically for children, often including bright colors, toys, and other tools to engage and delight little ones, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they are the best fit for your child’s needs. Believe it or not, a general dentist could be the way to go.
Experts in Pediatric Dental Care
It is a common misconception that pediatric dental offices are the only experts in treating the dental needs of children. They are good at what they do, no doubt. And they make it known that children are their primary focus. But here’s the thing – all dentists go through dental school and are highly trained in treating both kids and adults. The difference is that pediatric dentists will go an additional two years to gather more in-depth knowledge about kids and dentistry, including treating those with special needs.
The result? Any dentist is able to successfully treat kids and they both have expert knowledge in the field. There are certain dental concerns that apply specifically to kids so it is great to have the knowledge of a trained pediatric dentist. But general dentists have likely encountered more situations in their all-encompassing practice and may have more experience in handling certain needs.
Handling a Child’s Dental Needs
There are a lot of kids needing dental treatment – especially routine care. Therefore, it is not uncommon for pediatric dental offices to find ways of being more efficient in seeing and treating patients in their practice. Streamlining services in this way tends to reduce the number of distractions, too. And, often, this means parents are not allowed in with their children.
At a general dentist’s office, more focus is placed on offering support and gaining the trust of the patient – even the littlest ones. There is less attention paid to quantity and more paid to quality. In all, children have a better experience that can contribute to them continuing a successful oral health journey throughout their life.
The Best of Both Worlds at A & R Advanced Dental Group
If you are looking for a dentist for your child and aren’t sure how to make the decision between a pediatric dentist or a general dentist, you don’t have to. At A & R Advanced Dental Group, we are an office of general dentistry, handling the dental needs of patients of all ages. However, what sets us apart is that we have an award-winning pediatric dentist, Dr. Idelchik, on our team.
Working together, we can provide your child with the best care possible. What’s more, our team will be here for your child well into their adult years so they will never have to start over with a new dental office as they age.
To learn more or to get started, contact us today at our most convenient office for you:
Or, request an appointment online.