When it comes to deciding on a dentist for kids, there are several things to keep in mind. When searching, you should be aware that most dental offices do treat children and many family dentist’s offices are wonderful places for kids to interact with and learn about dentistry.
There are also specialized pediatric dentists that complete two additional years (beyond the four years of dental school every dentist completes) of training that prepare him or her for treatment specifically with infants, kids, and teens. These dentists are also familiar with treating children with special needs.
Finding the Perfect Dentist for Kids
Any dentist that is going to be working with your children should be a professionally trained doctor and should always utilize safe methods and equipment for use around children. Above and beyond these rather obvious requirements, the following checklist is a good guide to help you determine which dentist office is the best fit for your children:
- Is the office relaxing enough for children and child friendly (are there play areas in the waiting room and does the staff know how to interact well with children and help them feel calm)?
- Do the dentists in the practice treat children often? What is their level of experience with similar ages as your children
- Is the dentists equipped and prepared to offer early assessments for future need of teeth straightening procedures?
- Is the dentist able to provide advice and offer guidance for care of your childrens’ teeth at home?
- What other services are typically provided by this dentist for kids?
– filling cavities
– diagnosis of disease
– pulling teeth
– oral surgery
– athletic mouth guard fittings
– dental injury emergency care
– gum disease management
- Is the dentist conveniently located for your family?
- Is the care the dentist provides affordable? Does the office accept your insurance?
- How often will the dentist expect to see the child? Will you be pressured by the staff to choose expensive procedures and visit too frequent?
- How flexible is the office with scheduling?
- Is the dentist open to providing thorough answers to questions and listening to concerns?
- Is patient education a fundamental goal of the practice?
- Will the staff knowledgeably and gently care for a frightened child?
- Will I be clearly communicated with as a parent about my child’s treatments and will I have a say in what those treatments are?
- Has this dentist for kids been recommended to me by trusted family members or friends who have experience with the practice?
- What kind of information do reviews of the practice offer me?
Because children can sometimes require special care and attention during dentist office visits, it is extremely important that you are able to receive the answers to the questions above before you make a final choice about which dentist will treat your kids.
Plymouth Valley Dental Group hopes that every family finds the perfect fit for their needs and is committed to going above and beyond parents’ expectations when it comes to treating kids. For more information about our practice, please contact us today!
