A pediatric dentist, often just called a children’s dentist is a professional who has undergone three or more years of specialist training to deal with the dental demands of children and teens. Many people are told by their pediatrician that they should have their child’s first dental examination at about one year of age, a children’s dentist in Jacksonville will then often stay with the patient right through adolescence and into their late teens.
Dentists who choose to work with youngsters need to undergo special training to be able to accurately diagnose and treat diseases and conditions that have an effect on the mouth, gums and teeth of children, these dentists have a genuine love for their patients, they have a wonderful demeanor and they exercise all the patience in the world when dealing with them as they know that a visit to the dentist can be a frightening experience if not handled correctly.
Parents elect use a children’s dentist in Jacksonville as they know these dentists have the special skills to properly explain the importance of dental hygiene to children, they also take their children for regular cleanings and checkups. The dentist will usually perform a cleaning and then reinforce the message to the young patient on the importance of brushing and flossing. As well as giving instructions, they advise the kids on the frequency of cleaning as well as the best toothbrush to use.
As a children’s dentist is often dealing with the first set of teeth that the child gets, it is important that the adult teeth that are maturing under the surface are observed. To do this, X-Rays are used to get a good idea of what lies below the surface, the dentist will be able to tell if there is the possibility that the child may need future orthodontic care and that the teeth are progressing nicely.
Even though the child still has their baby teeth, proper dental care is important. There are some parents that are not concerned if there is decay in a baby tooth as they are of the opinion that it will fall out anyway. This is wrong thinking; the importance of baby teeth cannot be overemphasized as they are important for proper nutrition, speech and they guide the permanent teeth into place. A children’s dentist is just as concerned with treating decay in a youngster as in an older child who has their adult teeth already.