Pediatric Dental Care
What Is a Pediatric Dentist?
Just as pediatricians specialize in providing medical care to children, pediatric dentists are specialists in the dental health needs of children. The American Dental Association (ADA) recognizes nine dental specialties, and pediatric dentistry is one of these.
In addition to the required four years of dental school, pediatric dentists also compete an additional two to three years of specialized training that prepares them to treat a wide variety of children's dental problems. Their additional schooling also provides them with the knowledge they need to provide appropriate care for patients with specialized medical needs as well as physical and mental disabilities.
Pediatric dentists are trained to recognize and treat problems of growth and development that general dentists might not recognize. Additionally, some general dentists are uncomfortable treating very young children and often postpone treatment until the condition becomes too severe to correct with simple interventions.
By collaborating with your child’s pediatrician as well as other dental and medical specialists, the doctors at Sporting Smiles ensure that every patient receives the best comprehensive care possible.
Why Should I Choose Sporting Smiles Pediatric Dentistry of Gainesville, VA?
At Sporting Smiles, we believe in preventing problems whenever possible.
Prevention is the key concept in early dental care. With routine visits, we can identify problems in their earliest stages and treat them before they can cause damage.
One of the major concerns we have for small children is early childhood caries. This condition, often referred to as "baby bottle tooth decay," typically occurs when juice, milk, or formula is allowed to pool in a baby's mouth, can pose a serious problem. In fact, it's a major cause of infection and hospital visits in young children. Once your baby's diet includes anything other than breast-milk, the teeth are at risk for cavities (tooth decay).
Early intervention leads to effective prevention of these significant risks. Your child's smile and bite are important to their physical and social development. Start developing good dental habits now with consistent visits to our practice.
Good Oral Hygiene Starts Now!
One of the most common questions we receive as pediatric dentists is "when should I start brushing my baby's teeth?"
From the very start, take time to clean your infant's gums with a soft toothbrush designed for infants (often these are made to fit over a parent's thumb for better control) or a soft washcloth and water. Once the teeth erupt, you can begin brushing twice daily with an infant toothbrush. For children less than 2 years of age, use a pea-sized "smear" of toothpaste to brush the teeth. You should perform or assist your child's tooth brushing until they are about 8 years old or have developed the manual dexterity needed to brush effectively on their own. Allow your child to be a part of this process, however, so they can learn good habits!
