Pediatric Dentistry: Common Concerns of Dentists for Kids

Dentist phobias are common among children and young adults. For these kids, no amount of soothing or care on the part of parents or dentists will console or calm them. In response to this is the field of pediatric dentistry. These dentists tailor their practice specifically to the needs of kids.

Pediatric dentists receive two or three years of special training beyond the required dental school courses that specialize their talents toward caring for the health of children’s teeth. As many pediatric dentists say, they are “dedicated to the oral health of children from infancy to adolescence.” There are several areas of concern for parents of young children that are commonly addressed by pediatric dentists.

• Teething: Pediatric dentists recommend that infants see the dentist for the first time as soon as their first tooth appears, or no later than their first birthday. There are potential tooth problems that can occur in children this young, and caring for the primary teeth will be an important part of your child’s overall health. Healthy baby teeth are an essential part of ensuring that permanent teeth eventually grow in properly, and in the development of chewing and eating skills in your baby. Perhaps most importantly, baby teeth are involved in the proper development of the jaw.
• Nursing/baby bottle tooth decay: Infants are at risk for developing tooth decay as a result of nursing practices. It is fairly common for children to be put down for naps or to bed with their bottles of formula or juice. This can lead to cavities by allowing bacteria to accumulate in the mouth. This can usually be prevented by an early visit to the dentist and the implementation of some preventative habits. Some basic tips to prevent baby bottle tooth decay are substitute a bottle filled with water or a pacifier in place of sugary drinks or milk, only give your baby plain water to go to bed with, never dip your child’s pacifier in honey or sugar, use a wet cloth or gauze to wipe your child’s teeth after feeding.
• Thumb sucking: Depending on how the child sucks the thumb (some just place it in their mouths while others suck at it quite vigorously), severe teeth displacement can be caused. This often results in overbite, under bite, and teeth that are improperly aligned. If your child is a thumb sucker, you can discuss the habit with an orthodontist (if the child is under four years old, this is not necessary) who may be able to advise some methods to stop the habit. If you are trying to encourage your child to stop sucking their thumb, there are a few things to be mindful of. Forcing or telling them rarely works. The decision must come from them in order for it to stick all the time. Also, use positive encouragement and enforcement. Nagging and punishing will often cause children to revert back to their habit. If necessary, try using peer pressure techniques such as encouraging them to mimic adult or “big kid” behaviors like not sucking their thumb.