What Do Children’s Dentists Specialize In?

Posted on July 6, 2022

According to the American Association of Orthodontists, roughly 3.9 million children in the US are orthodontic patients. This explains why it’s necessary to have children’s dentists. You may be wondering what exactly children’s dentists specialize in. Read on to find more.

What Are Children’s Dentists Called and What Do They Do?

A dentist for children is typically referred to as a pediatric dentist. Pediatric dentists are a group of dental professionals that specialize in diagnosing and treating dental issues in children. Pediatric dentists are trained to identify the growing needs of infants, toddlers, children, and teenagers when it comes to their oral and dental health. Typically, you can expect your child’s dentist to perform an oral and dental exam with the intention of identifying and correcting any potential problems. They also provide valuable advice and education about good oral hygiene and oral disease prevention.

Is Pediatric Dentistry Related to Orthodontics?

Pediatric dentistry and orthodontics are strongly interlinked. Pediatric dentists are usually the first to evaluate and diagnose the child’s oral health and correct issues to the best of their abilities. It’s also necessary to see an orthodontist in cases where specialty dental services are needed. This is often the case when a child is dealing with a common orthodontic problem such as crowding, crossbite, overbite, or underbite. Pediatric dentists and orthodontists perform complementary work together to reduce the risk of future dental problems in young people.

The Benefits of Children’s Dentists

Children develop their baby teeth in the first six months after birth. By the age of seven, they’ll have already lost some of their baby teeth and are now waiting for their adult teeth. Proper dental care is important at this stage which is why it’s often recommended that children have their first orthodontic visit by the age of seven. Otherwise, poor dental hygiene can affect permanent adult teeth, resulting in lifelong dental problems. Taking your child to see a dentist from an early stage ensures they receive personalized dental treatment that reduces the risk of problems developing in the future.

Hopefully, this information was helpful in helping you understand what children’s dentists specialize in. Although it’s unfortunate that many children develop dental issues, such as cavities, the good news is that there are qualified pediatric dentists that can help. Please get in touch with us if you think your child requires the attention of a dental professional.