Kids’ dentistry is among the seven recognized clinical specialties of dentistry. In addition to all the areas of adult dentistry, kids’ dentistry includes additional procedures that are specific to the unique needs of children. While practicing kids’ dentistry, dentists have to be alert and must practice psychological principles that will allow kids to have a pleasant and relatively pain-free dental procedure. 

If a child experiences a traumatic dental treatment in childhood, they may reject dental care for life. Therefore, understanding kids and their behavior is an important aspect of pediatric or kids’ dentistry. Most parents do their best to help care for a child’s teeth and gums. However, regular trips to a dentist are important to reinforce proper oral care and to make recommendations on how to reduce the risk of dental disease.  

Choosing a Kid’s Dentist over a Regular Dentist 

You might feel tempted to take your child to a regular dentist. Many family dentists treat both kids and adults. However, it is advisable to ensure that you only consult a kid’s dentist for your little ones. Kids’ dentists receive additional training to handle children’s dental issues. Kids’ dentists undergo an additional two- or three years of training. The additional training for kids’ dentists mainly focuses on child psychology and child development. This training helps kids’ dentists to anticipate and deal with children’s behavior. 

Common Kids’ Dental Procedures

From the moment, the first tooth emerges usually between 6 months and 12 months, dental care is important. Your child’s oral health often affects their ability to chew and speech development. Maintaining proper health of the baby teeth enhances transition into healthy adult teeth. 

Some of the typical dental procedures offered at kids’ dental clinics are:

• Fluoride treatments
• Dental cleanings 
• Checkups
• Brushing and flossing techniques/lessons 
• Oral surgery 
• Orthodontics 
• Early tooth decay screenings 
• Crowns and amalgam-free dental fillings 
• Dental x-rays 

Kids’ dentists also focus on space management after the premature loss of a child’s primary teeth. If a child has addictive habits of thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, and lip sucking, a pediatric dentist will help discourage these habits. Kids’ dentists work tirelessly to ensure that every child they treat has healthy gums, healthy teeth, and healthy oral habits. Harrison Dental provides the best kids’ dental treatment for a wide range of dental issues.