As parents, you always want the best for your child and seeing them in pain is something you don’t even want to witness. So, whenever your child is struggling with an aching tooth or having dental problems, you must have a go-to paediatric dentist that will save their teeth and give them relief. But how, as parents, can you find the best paediatric dentist fit for your child? Here are 7 questions you can consider as you choose your child’s dentist.
1. What Are the Qualifications and Experience of the Paediatric Dentist?
Further study is needed to be a paediatric dentist. Beyond dental school specialised training is required to understand the child’s growth and development, and behavioral management ensuring they can provide best childcare.
It is important that you ask their qualifications, membership to any recognised organisations as the Australian Dental Association (ADA). Asking about this can help you secure a paediatric service that values growth in their field and stays updated on the latest techniques.
Ask:
“Can you describe your training and experience in paediatric dentistry?”
“Are you a member of a professional association?”
2. What To Do with Anxious or Afraid Children?
At times, children do not like visiting the dentist, and dental anxiety was noted in them. It is always advisable to get a good dentist for children and understand how they can handle a nervous or frightened child.
Seek out a dentist who can calm down the child, who is very patient, and who uses soft techniques for calming down the child, for example, using playing toys or using games or using distraction therapy in treatment. If necessary, ask if there is sedation or what they do to sedate your child for procedures.
Ask:
“Do you have something you do to attempt to soothe scared children in an effort to get them in?”
“What do your people typically do with scared children in general?”
3. What Is Your Approach to Preventive Care?
Prevention is the golden key to teeth forever, and a great paediatric dentist will focus on prevention so problems can be prevented in the future. Ask how they perform routine cleaning, fluoride, and sealants and how they teach parents and kids about oral health at home. These expensive paediatric dentists also talk about diet and thumb-sucking habits, etc., which can spoil or enhance your child’s oral health.
Ask:
“How do you handle preventive care in children?”
“How do you instruct parents regarding proper oral hygiene at home?”
4. What is Your Experience in Treating Children with Special Needs?
If your child has special needs, it is important that the paediatric dentist has training in handling such patients as this require extra care. Whatever condition your child has, a dentist must provide a safe and comfortable environment for the patient. Ensure that the paediatric dentist has a background working with children with special needs and get to know their practices that helps the process easier, faster and less stressful for the child.
Ask:
“What experience do you have working with children with special needs?”
“How do you tailor care for children who require special accommodations?”
5. How Do You Involve Parents with Their Child’s Oral Health?
Your dentist must be a good communicator, engaging parents so that your child’s treatment is done. From explaining procedures to giving oral home care instruction, your dentist must be at the top with advisement.
Select a dentist who will never hesitate to ask questions, explain procedures, and give oral home care instructions on how to keep your child’s teeth in good shape at home.
Ask:
“How do you educate parents about the child’s oral health and how do you talk to parents?”
“Do you have any advice or recommendations on what I can do at home to take care of my child’s teeth?”
6. What Treatment Services Do You Offer for Common Children’s Oral Disease?
Kids experience all kinds of dental problems, from teething and cavities to thumb sucking and overlapping. A paediatric dentist would have a whole palette of solutions at his disposal to treat such common ailments, and he must be capable of giving solutions based on your kid’s age and developmental stage. Question them how long they have worked with special needs children and what sort of treatment they perform. Whether your child does or does not need a filling, space maintainer, or orthodontic appointment, the dentist can sit down and go over all possibilities with you.
Ask:
“What routine child oral disease treatment do you provide?”
“Do you provide preventives such as fluoride or sealants?”
7. What Are Your Office Hours and Emergency Care Procedures?
Wherever the possibility of an emergency occurs, there will need to be information on hand concerning what needs to be done in the instance where your child will require a dental emergency. Whenever your child’s tooth is lost, its mouth intensely aches, or requires an injury to their mouth to be treated, ensure that they paediatric dentist shall be present whenever most needed. Ask whether there are evening office hours and whether they have a plan in case of dental emergencies. There are paediatric dentists who have evening office hours or belong to a group that has emergency care available.
Ask:
“Is there evening office hour, and do you provide emergency dental service?”
“Do you have a plan in place if my child experiences a dental emergency after or outside of office hours?
Conclusion
Selecting the top paediatric dentist for your child is the solution to their overall and oral health. Asking yourself these 7 critical questions will enable you to make the most educated decision and locate a dentist who will offer the finest care and make the experience for your child as pleasant as possible. We at Mia Dental understand how important it is to have a good kids’ dentist that will take care of your child’s teeth from the moment they first step foot into our offices until they become an adult.
Our friendly and professional staff are committed to delivering warm, quality care in a calm and serene atmosphere. Whatever your needs-a children’s dentist who genuinely cares about the comfort and well-being of your child-call Mia Dental today and schedule an appointment!
