Children`s Dentistry

Often called the pediatricians of dentistry, pediatric dentists specialize in providing the comprehensive preventive and therapeutic oral health care needs of children (infants through teenagers), including those with special needs (chronically ill, disabled or mentally challenged).

Pediatric dentists are also good choices for the dental care of adults with special needs. Common conditions that require special needs dental care include Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, seizure disorders, HIV infection, vision/hearing impairments, cleft lip, cleft palate, and other craniofacial conditions, and learning and developmental disabilities.

Pediatric Dental Care

Among the care provided by pediatric dentists is regular oral health exams (including caries risk assessment for infant and mother); preventive dental care (such as brushing and diet/nutrition recommendations); regular cleaning and fluoride treatments; and use of sealants to prevent cavities.

A pediatric dentist also may:

• Provide mouth guards (to prevent sports injuries)
• Provide or recommend special preventive care to safeguard against problems, such as teething and gum disease
• Offer habit counseling (e.g., thumb sucking, pacifier use)
• Offer assessment and treatment for teeth straightening and improper bite in the young child (orthodontics)
• Repair tooth cavities and/or defects
• Diagnose oral conditions associated with diseases such as diabetes, congenital heart defects, asthma and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
• Diagnose and treat dental developmental difficulties (e.g., root canals on adult teeth that have not fully formed)
• Provide management of gum diseases and conditions, such as pediatric periodontal disease, ulcers and tongue-tie (when the membrane that attaches the tongue to the floor of the mouth is shorter than normal. If tongue-tie interferes with breastfeeding, a pediatric dentist can clip the membrane to release the tongue)
• Care for dental injuries (e.g., fractured or knocked-out teeth)