Pediatric dentistry is a specialty recognized by the American Dental Association that focuses specifically on providing dental care to babies, children, and teenagers. Pediatric dentists go through an additional 2-3 year residency program AFTER receiving their dental license in order to receive their pediatric specialty.
Pediatric dentists have specific training for working with children, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t take your child to a family dentist or general dentist for them to enjoy excellent care. General and family dentists, like our dentists here at East Pershing, are able to provide excellent dental care for patients of all ages. And if there are conditions or situations that require specific pediatric expertise, they’ll refer you to a specialist that they know and trust.
Benefits of Going to a Pediatric Dentist
Pediatric dentists have specific training when it comes to children’s dental health. This expertise may be reflected throughout the practice. Some unique things you may see at a pediatric dentist’s office include:
- Stuffed animals for comfort, kid’s music, and TVs that play favorite cartoons and movies. Many dentists provide comfort and distraction options for patients with dental anxiety, but pediatric dentists are able to tailor these distractions specifically towards children.
- Behavior incentives. Most pediatric dentists will have a program that rewards good behavior with toys or prizes.
- Specialized care. If your child needs treatment for a particularly unusual condition, they can usually get that treatment at the pediatric dentist’s office without having to be referred to another specialist. Some pediatric clinics even have orthodontic capabilities within the same office.
Benefits of Going to a General Dentist
Perks like toys and distractions for kids aren’t exclusive to pediatric dentists. For example, here at East Pershing Dental, we have free arcade games in the lobby to help eliminate waiting room jitters. But one of the largest benefits of visiting a general or family dentist is that the whole family can go to the same place. This not only makes scheduling easier, but it streamlines the financial cost of dental care by taking advantage of family plans or memberships.
Another benefit of a family dentist is that your children will be able to continue to use the dentist they’re familiar with as long as they live in the same area.
So Which Should I Pick?
That is entirely up to you. Any good pediatric or family dentist will take great care of your children. It’s up to you to decide what makes the most sense for your budget, schedule, and family. If you’re in the general Cheyenne area, we’d love to have you come visit us at East Pershing Dental. We’re happy to answer any other questions you might have about children’s dental care.