Children are most commonly treated by general dentists who have been treating the entire family, but should your child be seeing a pediatric dentist while still in development? A pediatric dentist treats children from infancy through the teenage years and is particularly helpful with special needs children and adults. A pediatric dentist is just like a general dentist when it comes to preventative dentistry, regular cleanings, and treatments (cavity sealant). While a pediatric dentist performs the same tasks as a general dentist, there are a few aspects that differ.

General Dentist

• Well-established relationship with entire family
• Preventative dentistry (cleanings twice a year, X-rays, fluoride)
• Repair tooth cavities
• Diagnose and treat oral conditions associated with disease (diabetes)

Pediatric Dentist

• Two or three additional years of training with an emphasis on child psychology, growth and development

• Focus on certain age group (1-18)
• Preventative dentistry (cleanings twice a year, X-rays, fluoride)
• Habit counseling (pacifier and thumb sucking)
• Orthodontics
• Repair tooth cavities
• Treat dental development difficulties (root canals on adult teeth that are not fully formed)
• Management of conditions (pediatric periodontal disease, tongue-tie)

There is no right or wrong practice when it comes to using a general dentist or a pediatric dentist, but there are benefits to using a pediatric dentist and then switching to a general when the time comes. When deciding whether or not your child should see a pediatric dentist during the ages of development, take into account the additional benefits that go along with having a dentist who specializes in a specific age group compared to the benefit of having an established relationship with the family and child.

If you are asking yourself “should my child see a pediatric dentist?”, the decision comes down to personal preference. Both general and pediatric dentists are a good option for your child.