
It’s good to take your child to a paediatric dentist, a professional who specialises in children’s dentistry including those with special needs.
Paediatric dentists are trained to:
- Use special approaches in treating children who have intellectual, physical and medical conditions as well as those with behavioural challenges (e.g. autism, ADHD)
- Better manage anxious young children about the upcoming dental treatment
- Know the exact causes of dental problems that affect children’ and their rapid oral development
Although you can still take your child to a general dentist, a specialist professional can make the dental experience more positive for your child. A paediatric dentist also knows deeply how an illness or disability can affect a child’s oral development.
Expertise of paediatric dentists
Paediatric dentists often have full and updated knowledge about:
- Physical and psychological growth of children (including how their teeth affects the children’s confidence, behaviour and development and vice versa)
- How oral diseases are inherited and acquired
- How the temperament and environment affect their oral health and development
- Evidence-based treatment related to children’s oral health and how to treat children with special needs based on best practices
Paediatric dentists can also tailor the treatment depending on the specific conditions (medical, physical, intellectual, behavioural) of each child. They can design a treatment program that can eliminate or minimise the anxiety or discomfort. This way, even children with certain conditions can still gain a positive dental experience.
How can a paediatric dentist help your child?
Paediatric dentists can carry out the following:
- Oral health exam for infants and toddlers
- Diagnosis of oral conditions that might be traced back to a certain medical or physical condition
- Preventive dental care (including diet recommendations for better oral health)
- Habit counseling (e.g. to prevent thumb sucking and teeth grinding)
- Early treatment for bad oral habits, improper bite and misaligned teeth
- Repair of tooth cavities and other oral defects
- Care for dental injuries after an injury of your child
Children can be more cooperative with paediatric dentists because of these professionals’ appropriate approaches. These specialist professionals know exactly how to calm a child and make the dental visit a positive experience.