While most people don’t believe there are any differences between a regular and a pediatric dentist, other than pediatric dentists in Middleburg only have child patients, there are many differences. The first thing to note is that oral healthcare providers trained to deal with children have more training and ability to handle kids than even experienced professionals with regular training.
Training
A dentist must train to work in the oral care field, but those that work with children have to have about three years of extra training to help them prepare to handle children’s teeth. Because children’s teeth continue to develop and grow, the dentist must understand this and take it into consideration when offering techniques and treatments.
The training typically includes hands-on training, so that the dentist can learn first-hand how to deal with infants, children and teenagers, as well as those with mental or physical challenges. Once they learn these skills, they can work under a certified professional to learn even more about sedation, oral development of children and cavity prevention, allowing them to be a more well-rounded oral care professional.
Disabled Children
If you have a disabled child, whether the disability is mental or physical, you would do well to consider pediatric dentists in Middleburg, as they are trained to understand children with disabilities.
You have likely encountered different needs from your child than other kids, and understand this yourself, so it is very helpful to have a dentist that understands the special needs of your child, also. They can usually deal with difficult kids, such as those with little patience or a low tolerance for pain and can help keep kids calm when they are stressed or frightened.
Different Treatments/Techniques
Though it may seem strange, kids need different techniques and treatments than adults because their teeth are still developing and growing. They can also help with bad oral habits, including poor teeth and jaw alignment and thumb sucking and can give advice for the proper diet and nutritional needs of your child.
The dentist will always clean the teeth, help prevent cavities, teach you and your child how to prevent cavities at home, give fluoride treatments and make any repairs necessary using the proper tools. Most adults don’t require fluoride treatments and understand how to brush and floss, so they require different techniques and treatments.
