How Do General and Pediatric Dentists Differ?

How Do General and Pediatric Dentists Differ?

Feb 01, 2021

Most American families have pediatricians to cater for the oral health issues of their kids. While they deal with kids’ dental problems, general “family” dentists have to deal with the rest of the family’s oral issues.

While some general dentist has a practice on kids, it doesn’t make them qualified pediatricians. Pediatric dentists have a different line of work from other dentists.

When looking at pediatric dentists vs. general dentists, we see that pediatricians specialize in children’s care alone, while general dentists don’t. They have special extra training that the general dentist does not have, making them more qualified for the work.

So, how is a pediatric dentist different?

More Training

All dentists need to have at least a bachelor’s degree from a four-year course of dental training. However, Kids’ dentists in Omaha, NE, go for extra training towards their profession. All pediatricians have at least two additional years of training.

The extra two years of training aim to treat developing teeth, child behavior, child psychology, make children feel relaxed, kids’ physical growth, and select parameters needed in children dentistry. They also receive training on how to handle children with special needs.

Kids’ Dentists have More Experience with children.

Because kid’s dentists exclusively deal with children, they will have more experience dealing with children than a general dentist near you. This is the exact case at the Anding Family Dental.

Keep in mind that children do have special needs. For example, they are more likely to develop cavities than adults because their teeth are not fully developed. Regardless of the special needs, they also have different behaviors compared to adults.

Pediatric dentists have trained experience to detect and deal with these unusual behaviors when children exhibit them. They can easily deal with their emotions and help your kids overcome their fears. Part of their training involves medically dealing with children in hospitals, even in extreme dental cases, so you can be sure no challenge is too hard for a pediatric dentist.

Pediatric Dentists are Less Scary

Visiting a dentist can be scary for some adults, leave alone children. However, the kid’s dentist in Omaha, NE, takes the necessary steps in ensuring that the kids are comfortable every time they visit. For instance, they use smaller and customized dental tools, different from what a general dentist uses. They are designed for a small child’s mouth, so they are more comfortable.

Pediatricians also introduce each tool one at a time and explain to the child what each tool does, so children are more comfortable during treatment. They will know which device is being used and why, so the fear of the unknown is eliminated.

Pediatric Environments are More Fun for Kids

If you have ever been to a kids’ dentistry, you must have noticed how colorful the place is. Their dental offices are covered with fun objects and charts that children love looking at. Most of these things will not be found in a general dentist’s office.

From the waiting room to the dental room, chairs, walls, and touching surfaces are decorated with fun stuff that children love. The goal here is to keep children as excited as possible such that they will look forward to their next dental appointment.

Habit Control

Dr. Michelle Chang says that children come with many needs regarding oral health care. General dentists do not need to continually remind adults how to brush their teeth, but pediatric dentists have to keep their patients in check and updated.

Not only do they offer special toothpaste and toothbrushes for children, but they also teach parents the techniques they can use to get their children to brush teeth more often and oral care tips that will keep away dental decay.

By offering sealants, fluoride treatments, and space maintainers, your child has a better chance of fighting off tooth decay. It’s easier and less painful to prevent tooth decay than treating its effects when it occurs.

Unlike the general dentist near you, the pediatrician also teaches children against habits such as thumb sucking.

Can Adults See a Pediatric Dentist?

Pediatric dentists are qualified for adults’ treatment, but they only accept patients under 18. They don’t do so because they don’t want to cater to adults, but because they know their specialty, experience, and knowledge are in pediatric care, not general dentistry.

Unlike general dentists near you, pediatricians may not offer some adult treatments like Invisalign, denture repair, and cosmetic dentistry options.

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