Knowing where to take an infant for dental care can be difficult. There are pediatric dentists, family dentists, and kid-friendly dentists. Parents are often left with confusion. Thankfully, there are a few key things that help to determine where exactly an infant should go for dental care.
The following information outlines the difference between a pediatric dentist a kid-friendly dentist. It is important to understand the difference as it can be helpful when trying to determine where to take an infant.
A pediatric dentist is the best professional for an infant to visit. Pediatric dentists undergo training to learn how to care for the oral cavity as the baby teeth erupt. This training makes them experts in the field, which gives them an advantage over other types of dentists.
As far as infants are concerned, pediatric dentists can evaluate the development of the baby teeth as they erupt. The developmental stages of tooth eruption are crucial to monitor as they will lay the foundation for the adult teeth. Other than monitoring development, pediatric dentists can also perform restorative work, such as baby dental crowns or fillings, both of which can be required in infants.
Kid-friendly dentists are general dentists who typically specialize in family services. This means that adults and children can visit the practice and receive general oral health care, such as cleanings or examinations. While kid-friendly dentists can provide oral health care to children, they do not specialize in it.
Additionally, the oral health of a child is much different than that of an infant, which may make a kid-friendly dentist unqualified. Children are typically categorized as ages four to 12, whereas infants are six months to three years old. The oral health of an infant varies from that of a child or adults, and it typically does require special attention like that of a pediatric dentist.
It is good to know that infants can visit kid-friendly dentists once they have been cleared by a pediatric dentist. Oftentimes, parents prefer to visit one family dentist as it makes for a more convenient location for the entire family. This is perfectly fine so long as a pediatric dentist does check that the infant's teeth are developing properly.
On the other hand, if parents prefer to only take the infant to a pediatric dentist, this is also fine. Pediatric dentists can monitor the oral health of the infant throughout their entire childhood, thus setting them up for success for adulthood.
Parents that have infants should almost always visit a pediatric dentist for oral care. While kid-friendly dentists are great resources to utilize, infants do require specialized care that pediatric dentists are experienced at providing. In the event that there is a cause for concern, a pediatric dentist is always a safe bet.
To find out more about pediatric dentists and how they can help with infant care, reach out today. Any questions or concerns can be addressed, and an evaluation can be done to determine the most appropriate route for the infant's oral health.
Request an appointment here: https://www.grandparkwaypediatricdental.com or call Grand Parkway Pediatric Dental at (832) 579-0960 for an appointment in our Richmond office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Pediatric Dentist in Richmond, TX.
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