children’s dentistry in Omaha NE differs from adult dentistry in that it focuses on dental diseases commonly found in children between the ages of infancy and adolescence. The goal of a pediatric dental practice is to prevent dental diseases in children and catch problems early so they don’t follow the child into adulthood. A dentist who wishes to be certified as a pediatric dentist or pedodontist must undergo specialized training, training which takes two to three years to complete after dental school. Why do children need to see a special dentist rather than the family practitioner?
A pedodontist learns how to care for the teeth of children, from the milk teeth often seen in newborns all the way through to the development of adult teeth. Changes which occur in the teeth typically occur between birth and the age of 12 which is why the dentist needs this specialized training. Problems detected in the teeth during this period need to be identified quickly so corrections can be made where needed to prevent future issues.The focus is often on orthodontic corrections and the prevention of tooth decay.
Children are more susceptible to injuries to the teeth than adults and the specialized training a pedodontist receives helps with this also. Teeth may be cracked or chipped during normal childhood activities and gums can be injured as the child plays. The problems differ significantly from those commonly seen in adults who are more likely to be suffering from gum disease or missing teeth. The training the pedodontist receives is designed to show the dentist how to handle these situations, when treatment should be undertaken and when it is best to allow the child to move forward with chipped, cracked or damaged teeth, while waiting for the adult teeth to come in.
Another benefit of seeing a children’s dentistry in Omaha NE is they have special skills needed to deal with young children. Many kids are afraid of the dentist and he or she understands how to ease these fears and make the experience as pleasant as possible. Often, this will involve a kid friendly office, one involving toys, movies, video games and more to distract the child. In addition, the dentist will typically explain what is happening to the child and what tools will be used and why. The skills used by the dentist will benefit the child his or her entire life.
