As a parent, taking care of your family's oral health is essential. In addition, if you have young children, you should instil the best oral care practices as early as possible so they can form the proper habits to carry with them throughout their lives.
But apart from staying on top of habit formation, choosing the right dental professional for your little ones is crucial.
What Makes a Children's Dentist Different?
Some specialist pediatric dentists only treat children, often in a hospital setting or under general anaesthetic if required. Pediatric dentists specialise in children's dental needs – from infancy through adolescence. They are experts in dealing with the most common oral health issues during developmental years.
Some general dentists with experience and continuing education also have highly developed skills for treating children. The dentists at Bayside Smiles are trained to understand the unique psychology of young people. Hence, they implement age-appropriate techniques when dealing with patients to ensure their proper understanding of oral health and positive experiences at the dental clinic.
Most importantly, they use tools and equipment designed for children. The child-friendly equipment and tools make a whole world of difference, making the dental office a nice place.
How Can Bayside Smiles Help Your Family?
Dental professionals are totally committed to your child's oral health, and our services cover all the variables that can impact the development of your little ones' teeth. The oral health care services a pediatric or children's dentist provides include:
● Regular oral examinations
Based on current exam results, these determine your child's condition and potential health risks. It always helps to know your child's oral condition so you can make the necessary changes to protect their dental health.
● Education for parents
Lessons on preventative dental care delivered to parents include cleaning the mouth, the importance of fluoride treatments, and proper nutrition. With these, parents can have the assurance they are doing the right things.
● Counselling
This covers children's habits, such as binky or pacifier use, thumbsucking, and genetic factors affecting oral development.
● Orientation regarding the possibility of costly treatments in the future
Dentists can tell quite early if a child requires orthodontic braces in the future. Therefore, they can help parents to prepare financially as early as possible. In addition, they inform parents about the different payment options to make costly orthodontic treatments manageable when the needs arise.
● Emergency dental care
Children are prone to dental accidents that usually require urgent attention and treatment. Bayside Smiles strives to provide the best emergency dentistry to care for children in that state.
All the services a dentist provides can bring a family peace of mind about everything from typical oral health to emergencies that typically send parents into a panic. In addition, a pediatric dental professional can help a family manage health expenses by presenting solutions early for parents to prepare the best way they can financially.
Bayside Smiles works closely with their emergency dental practice 24/7 Dental in Moorabbin to ensure your family can source emergency dentistry 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Tips on How to Choose a Dentist for Your Family
Dentists are not created the same. So, don't go with the first one you find. When choosing a dental professional for your child, it is crucial to do a background check and compare.
Here are some tips that can help you with this task:
1. Limit your options to those in your area.
You do not want trips to the dentist to be a massive production every time. So, choose a dentist with a clinic that is easily accessible to your family. Look for one near your office, the school, or your home.
2. Conduct a background check.
Most of the time, dentists share their credentials online. Read them and find out where they studied, how long they have been in practice, their specialities, and even client reviews.
3. Check out the dental clinic.
Pay a visit to the dental offices of the dentists you are considering for the kids. You want to ensure the clinic is appealing to your little ones because it will be much easier to bring them for a check-up if they like the place.
4. Make sure that the dentist has a likable personality.
It is a huge advantage to find a friendly dentist with a personality your children like. It has to be a good match because when it is, getting your youngsters to go for their check-ups will be a breeze. They may even look forward to each dental appointment.
5. And lastly, evaluate the staff.
It is also a must to direct attention to the conduct and demeanour of the clinic staff. See if they are patient and helpful, friendly and knowledgeable.
If you are looking for a dentist for your children, we invite you to book an appointment and visit us at Bayside Smiles. We are a trusted family-friendly dental group in Melbourne and highly experienced in treating young patients — from infants ready to cut their first tooth to teenagers with unique orthodontic needs.