| Dentists for children - can your family dentist treat your child? South Gate |
Is your family dentist equipped to treat your child? How can you select a good children's dentist, who will suit your needs?
A general family practitioner dentist will have undergone a minimum of seven to eight years of higher education in order to earn a Doctorate in Dental Medicine. A family dentist sees patients of all ages to evaluate the general condition of teeth and to treat mild and/or common ailments. But in cases of special or particular need, he or she will refer a patient to a specialist. This is more so in the cases of children.
A children's dentist, more commonly known as a pediatric dentist specializes in treating young people from the age of infancy to the age of adolescents. These dentists have two to three additional years of training, following the basic training required to become a general practitioner dentist. Pediatric dentists are also trained to treat special needs patients of all ages.
How can you select a pediatric dentist who will best suit the needs of your child and you?
Most often when a child needs special attention on teeth, the family doctor will recommend a specialist who is equipped to treat him or her. If your doctor does not recommend one, ask him to refer you to a good specialist. You can also ask other parents of young children about whom to go to. Since they have already been to the doctors, they will be able to give you a confidant referral.
Interview or try out several children dentists before you choose one. Be very honest about the needs of your child and your own expectations. This will enable the dentists to give you an honest and accurate assessment of the services he is able to provide.
When making your final decision, select a dentist who has several years experience of working with children, genuinely enjoys his work and is encouraging about including your child and family to his practice. |
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