Who Needs a Kid Friendly Dentist?

A kid-friendly dentist is a dental professional that offers services for children. They typically have welcoming environments that include colorful areas of the office and implement methods to make children feel comfortable and confident during each visit. This review highlights who needs a kid-friendly dentist and how often parents should take their child to see one.

All children are encouraged to see a kid-friendly dentist

All children should visit the dentist every four to six months for a check-up visit. This reduces the risk of developing oral health concerns such as weakened enamel, dental cavities, and periodontal disease. Parents may also need to take their child to see the dentist for dental trauma and orthodontic needs as well.

Diagnostic services

Diagnostic services are common among most kid-friendly dentists. Most notably, this includes all types of dental X-rays and a comprehensive oral examination. However, diagnostic services may be slightly different with kid-friendly dentists. They are likely to check more closely for issues that affect children, such as impacted teeth and orthodontic concerns. Visiting a kid-friendly dentist ensures that children get accurate diagnostic services.

Preventive oral care

The main goal of kid-friendly dentists is to help parents prevent oral health concerns from developing with their children. This is done by educating parents and their children about how to care for their oral health at home between visits. It also includes preventive dental services such as sealants and routine cleanings.

Treating dental cavities

When oral care issues develop, then it is time to see a kid-friendly dentist. Children often develop dental cavities. While preventive care can significantly reduce the risk of cavities, they can still develop. When they do, a kid-friendly dentist may recommend dental fillings (or more extensive treatments if necessary.)

Dental trauma

Children have lots of energy, and they have a way of burning their energy in ways that are not always safe. Subsequently, the risk of dental trauma is much higher. Whether knocking a tooth on a trampoline accident or taking a blow to the face while playing sports, treating dental trauma promptly is very important. Kid-friendly dentists often offer emergency services to deal with chipped and cracked teeth, knocked-out teeth, and other urgent oral health concerns.

Orthodontic care

Orthodontic care deals with alignment concerns of the teeth and jaw. This is common among children and kid-friendly dentists encourage parents to start orthodontic care at a relatively young age. The two most common types of orthodontic care are braces and clear aligners. Many kid-friendly dentists also offer early orthodontic care, which aims to detect and minimize alignment concerns before they fully develop.