Oral health maintenance begins in infancy, but you’ll need to start taking your baby to the dentist around age 1. A pediatric dentist is a dental professional who treats children exclusively and who can provide your little one with the care necessary to maintain healthy baby and adult teeth. If you need to find a dentist for your child, know what makes these specialized professionals particularly qualified to treat your child.

What Does a Pediatric Dentist Do & What Are the Benefits of Seeing One?

Qualifications & Practice

Like any dentist, pediatric dentists undergo four years of dental school, but they also go through an additional two to three years of residency training that focuses on infants, children, and special needs children. These dentists train in hospitals to gain experience working with severe children’s dentistry cases and learn the best methods for interacting with kids of different ages and needs. They typically treat babies up to college-age patients and provide a wide range of services, including preventive oral health exams.

A pediatric dentist also provides counseling for habits that can interfere with your child’s tooth and gum development, such as thumbsucking and pacifier use. Your dentist will recommend foods and oral health practices that promote healthy teeth and gums as well as dental specialists for issues such as misaligned teeth that need braces.

Advantages Over General Dentists

Pediatric dentists know how to communicate with young dental patients so they forge positive relationships early. This contributes to a lifetime of good oral health practices for your child. If a child has negative dental experiences growing up, he or she may be less likely to schedule teeth cleanings and checkups as an adult. These dentists focus on preventing that from happening by educating children on dental care in a fun and easy-to-understand way.

Plan your child’s first visit to the pediatric dentist at Pediatric Dentistry of Onalaska, LLC as part of your commitment to establishing healthy habits early. The Onalaska, WI, children’s dentistry service has proudly served the La Crosse County area since 2002 and has warm, welcoming staff who immediately make your child feel comfortable. Call (608) 781-9114 to schedule an appointment, or visit their website for service information. Like the Facebook page for children’s oral health tips and community updates.