Kids Dentist: Pediatric or Family Dentist

Choosing a kids dentist is an important decision for parents. This dentist will impact the child's dental health for years to come. Both family and pediatric dentists are well suited to treat kids, but which is right for your child? Here are some important things to consider when choosing a kids dentist.

What is a family dentist?

A family dentist is a type of general dentist who focuses on providing general dental services to families. Family dentists often advertise themselves as kids dentists and provide a child-friendly environment. Thus, they can treat the members of an entire family, including the parents, children, and possibly even the grandparents. They can perform a range of standard general dental services, including routine checkups, cleanings, and simple restorations such as cavity fillings and crowns. However, they will likely refer to a dental specialist for more complicated dental cases, such as complex oral surgeries.

Advantages to choosing a family dentist

The key benefit of seeing a family dentist is convenience and familiarity. Family dentists know the entire family's dental history and develop long-term, trusting relationships with their patients. In addition, all family members can get their dental care at the same location, making planning easier and saving time.

What is a pediatric dentist?

A pediatric dentist is a dental specialist with professional education and training to care for the unique dental needs of children from infancy to 18 years of age. This type of kids dentist will undergo two to three years of additional training beyond what a family dentist does. This training focuses entirely on children; when they practice, they only work with patients under 18. In addition, their offices are child-oriented, down to the special equipment needed for little mouths. Typically, the only time they will treat an adult patient is in cases where the adult has special needs like a developmental disability.

Advantages to choosing a pediatric dentist

The additional training and skill pediatric dentists have in working with children is one of the strongest advantages of opting for this type of dentist. These kids dentists are usually better equipped to handle more complex childhood dental problems. A child can see a pediatric dentist starting in infancy, while a family dentist usually starts treating children at school age.

Who is right for your child?

When considering which treatment is the right option for their child, there are a few different factors a parent needs to weigh. If a child is under 5 years of age, a family dentist may be unable to treat them. Also, pediatric dentists may be better suited to treat children with complicated dental needs with their specialized training and equipment. In addition, children with dental anxiety may require the training of a pediatric dentist to stay calm enough to get the care they need. However, if a child is older than 5 years of age and has average dental needs, a family dentist could be a better choice, especially for parents who have to plan for the rest of the family's dental needs.