Research showed that between 2006 and 2016, fewer children were starting to see a pediatric dentist. During these years, fewer and fewer young children were receiving dental care.
Many parents may not believe that their children need dental care. Especially for children one year old to five years old, but that isn’t true.
Children of all ages need to be seeing a dentist from infancy and into adulthood. This is important in caring for their teeth and making sure their teeth are healthy.
Because of this, parents should be prepared to get a pediatric dentist for their children as early as possible. Ensuring that their teeth can develop without any issues.
Keep reading to find out how to find the best pediatric dentist in your area.
1. A Love for Children
A pediatric dentist should have a love for children above all else. After all, they are going to be working with children on a daily basis.
Children are much different from adults and require a different set of skills. They may not be as mentally advanced as adults, but they can still pick up on things.
If their dentist is not kid-friendly, they will be able to recognize that. This can result in them feeling uncomfortable and not wanting to go to the dentist.
The best pediatric dentists will be very kid-friendly all the way through. They need to be able to spend time with children and understand them on their level.
Being able to do this will create a better experience that your child won’t fear. Later on, as they get older, these good experiences will prepare them for other kinds of dentists.
2. Fun and Engaging
The best pediatric dentist should have a fun and engaging personality that draws you in. This goes hand in hand with loving children, as they should know how to communicate with them.
Being able to have this kind of personality is very important for children. They have a limited attention span and won’t nee able to focus on a boring adult.
A good pediatric dentist should be fun and engage with your child to keep their attention. Creating a fun experience in the office and easing any fears that they may have.
Being able to portray these characteristics makes a huge difference in the appointment. Especially if your child is young and afraid of this new experience.
A fun dentist will also create a fun atmosphere that affects the entire office. Making it a good experience for both you and your child when you go to the appointment.
3. Patient
A kids dentist is going to have to be a very patient person by nature. It goes without saying that kids can be a handful to manage.
Children are rowdy and have short attention spans that aren’t always great for appointments. They can easily get upset if they become bored or scared of the dentist.
A kid-friendly dentist is going to need to have a lot of patience to work with children. They can be a handful, and the dentist will need to work with them regardless of that.
This is vital in having a successful appointment for your child. It can also help to calm any stress that the parents may be experiencing.
Children can sense when an adult is upset with them and can sense impatience. Because of this, dentists need to have a patient nature that is best around children.
Examining young children’s teeth can be difficult, and they need to be prepared for that. As well as prepared to deal with any fear, boredom, or irritation from the child.
4. Knowledgeable
A kids dentist also needs to be knowledgeable in how children work and their dental health. Taking care of a child’s teeth is going to be a bit different than an adult’s teeth.
Children have teeth that are developing and can experience different issues along the way. A good pediatric dentist needs to be able to know what to look for.
This is very important in making sure that their teeth develop as they should. It is during this time that issues can be caught before they progress.
Some of the biggest things that they need to look for are teeth grinding, thumb sucking, and pacifier use. As well as other issues that can come from developing teeth.
Many dental issues can be easily treated if caught early on. If left untreated, they can result in more severe issues that will need to be fixed later on.
5. Compassionate
The best pediatric dentists are going to need to be naturally compassionate. Being compassionate goes hand in hand with being patient with children.
Going to the dentist can be a scary experience for children. It can even be painful or uncomfortable, depending on what needs to be done.
Because of this, it is common for children to be afraid of dentists. They may be emotional and upset for no real reason at their appointment.
A good kid’s dentist will need to be compassionate and not irritated by these emotions. Being irritated and unbothered will just make the issue worse.
Parents should specifically look for a dentist that is compassionate and thoughtful. This will put the child at ease and help them to better understand what is going on.
How to Find the Best Pediatric Dentist
If you are looking for the best pediatric dentist, there are certain things to look for. A Lexington dentist can have a huge impact on your child’s first experiences with a dentist.
Do you need to find dentists in Lexington for your child? Contact us today at Beaumont Kid’s Dentistry to schedule an appointment.