Professionals in children’s dentistry specialize in the dental needs of children and adolescents. Children’s dentists focus on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of infections and conditions in the oral cavity and the maxillofacial area. Children’s dentists also maintain the function and appearance of these specific areas. Kids dentistry in Pleasanton aims to help their patients maintain a healthy mouth, teeth, and gums to establish healthy lifelong habits.
Pediatric dentistry in Pleasanton, also known as a pedodontist or a children’s dentist, evaluates your child’s dental and medical history and performs oral exams. They educate patients about dental conditions and infections, good oral hygiene, and oral disease prevention. They can order and interpret lab and imaging tests like x-rays and saliva tests.
Whenever necessary, the dentist in Pleasanton, CA, prescribes medications, including antibiotics and pain killers. The dentist can treat various oral and maxillofacial issues, including tooth decay, gum disease, and TMJ disorders. Besides the above, a pediatric dentist also provides preventive oral and dental care, including dental cleanings, fluoride treatments, dental sealants, and works closely with other dental specialists or medical professionals to ensure optimal care.
Who Should Visit Children’s Dentistry?
All children, including adolescents with physical and mental disabilities, must receive regular dental care throughout their childhood. Regular children’s dental care is the optimal way to prevent cavities, gum disease, and other oral health conditions.
Dental care for children must begin when infants get their first tooth and no later than their first birthday. After that, regular children’s dentistry typically includes a routine dental cleaning and exam every six months or more frequently as recommended by the dentist in 94566. How often your child requires dental care depends on your specific dental issues like the quantity of plaque and tartar buildup, susceptibility to gum disease, and rate of tooth decay.
When Should a Visit to Children’s Dentistry Be Considered?
Besides regular dental exams and care, consider seeking advice from an experienced children’s dentist if your child has any of the symptoms and conditions mentioned below:
- Bad breath or dry mouth.
- Bleeding gums.
- Crooked or discolored teeth.
- Delayed eruption of teeth or tooth loss.
- Medical conditions that make the child vulnerable the risk of dental problems like diabetes.
- Swelling of the oral tissues like the gums besides tooth, mouth, and jaw pain.
Older children and adolescents have some behaviors increasing their risks of dental problems, including frequent snacking between meals, involvement in contact sports, smoking, excessive alcohol use, and high-risk oral sex practices.
Conditions Treated by Children’s Dentistry
The dentist in Pleasanton, a pediatric dentist, treats various conditions and diseases, including:
- Baby bottle tooth decay, plaque, and cavities.
- Discolored teeth.
- Dry mouth.
- Gingivitis.
- Malocclusion.
- Broken teeth, tooth loss, or trauma.
- Bruxism and TMJ disorders.
- Toothaches.
Tests Performed or Ordered by Children’s Dentistry
A professional providing children’s dentistry services performs various diagnostic and screening tests. The tests include performing oral biopsies to diagnose cancer and other conditions, oral cancer screening to detect oral cancer before your child has any symptoms, oral exams including early childhood cavity risk assessment and a visual evaluation, tests for oral infections, and x-rays.
Children’s dentists also perform various procedures and treatments to care for the dental hygiene of your child. For example, your child will need cleanings, fluoride treatments, dental sealants, and deep cleaning.
Children’s dentists can fit oral appliances, including custom mouth guards for sports and dental appliances for teeth grinding and TMJ disorders. If your child loses a tooth too early, they can fit space maintainers to ensure their remaining teeth don’t move towards the blank space. If your child needs surgical treatments like tooth extractions and gum surgery, a children’s dentist is the best professional to treat them. Professionals in children’s dentistry also restore and repair damaged teeth providing fillings, dental crowns, root canals, and any other treatments needed.
Pediatric dentists acquire additional qualifications after graduating from dental school besides completing the requirements for state dentistry licensure. In addition, some pediatric dentists are also board certified by the American Board of pediatric dentistry, validating that they have received advanced training in pediatric dental care.
Your child’s pediatric dentist is their best friend from infancy until adolescence providing them all the knowledge they need to develop excellent oral hygiene habits, prevent the development of bad habits, and even work with children to avoid harmful dental practices. Children’s dentistry specializes in this particular field to provide your child with excellent oral hygiene habits throughout their life.