New York City Guide to Pediatric Dentists

pediatric-dentist-guide

Exposing your child to early dental care promotes a lifetime of dental health as well as allowing your child to become accustomed to visiting the dentist on a regular basis. Early exposure limits the risk of your child experiencing dental phobia later in life. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, children should have their first dental office visit by the age of one or as soon as their first primary tooth begins to grow. Many details go into finding the best suited pediatric dentist for your child. These are helpful tips that will guide you to the best pediatric dentist in New York City for your child.

What is a Pediatric Dentist?

Many may wonder how a pediatric dentist differs from a regular dentist. Pediatric dentists have an additional two to three years of training after completing dental school. They focus their practice on treating children from infancy to adolescence only.

Selecting a Pediatric Dentist

Many friends and family members may give you a great recommendation for a pediatric dentist. But you will still want to do your homework, even if you already have a recommendation. What is good for one child, might not be for another. First you will want to make sure the dentist is a member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and is licensed in the State of New York. Does the dentist stay current with updated techniques and details in the industry by attending seminars, classes and conferences? Is the staff and pediatric dentist polite, friendly, gentle and patient enough to deal with young children? Is there child-sized furniture, instruments, entertainment, toys, books and other items to keep your child occupied and distracted? You can find all of these details by visiting the dental office and asking questions or conduct online research by searching the dentist’s name and contacting the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Avoid any pediatric dentists that do not cater to children, seem like they have a dirty office, are not licensed, work out of a temporary location, appear in a rush or has a rude staff.

Services and Treatments:

  • EmergenciesPediatric dentists know that children love to play, run and jump. At times this fun behavior can cause them to trip or fall and experience a dental emergency. At the first sign of emergency, contact the pediatric dentist office for further instruction on how to care for the specific situation. An appointment will be made immediately. Emergencies include bleeding, swelling, broken teeth, ulcers, cold sores and tooth pain.
  • Preventative Services Cleanings, fluoride treatments, checkups, occlusal analysis, comprehensive oral exams, TMJ screenings, Intraoral/extraoral exams and diagnostic X-rays are used to detect potential issues.
  • Diagnosis X-rays are used to locate and confirm issues such as cysts, tooth decay, extra teeth and much more. Central Park Dentistry use digital X-rays that reduce your child’s exposure to radiation by 50%.
  • Restorative Treatments Restorative services include dental extractions, white caps, white crowns, dental crowns, baby root canals and composite fillings.
  • Sedation This type of service is used only when necessary and uses nitrous oxide, which is also known as laughing gas. It sedates children who are nervous or are in need of extensive dental services and are at risk of moving around to quickly which may cause injury.

Cost of Treatments

Dentists located throughout New York City have prices that range from office to office. While many of them try their best to stay within the same price range as other offices around them, you may come across some offices that are less costly than others. Avoid any discount offer that is too good to be true. Sometimes these offers may provide the same services but at a lesser quality compared to other offices. Inquire with your dental care provider to see what part of the cost they are able to cover. You can also check with the pediatric dentist office of your choice to see if they offer convenient finance options.

Dealing with Dental Phobia

kids-dental-phobiaSome children may have had a negative experience in the past or are just nervous to experience something new. Either way, some children may develop what is called dental phobia, which is an intense, unreasonable fear of an activity. The best thing to do is to stay calm and gentle with your child, assure them everything is going to be good. Also discuss your child’s fear with the pediatric dentist so they can take measures to help your child feel calm and safe during treatment and checkups.

Once your child gets use to the fact that visiting the dentist is a normal part of their life, they will usually relax and become excited to visit for their checkups. It will also encourage them to learn to take care of their teeth. Teach your kids to avoid sugars, brush their teeth daily and floss if they are old enough. Their journey to a lifetime of health gums and teeth begins at their first visit to the pediatric dentist.

 


Dr. Lauren Feldman specializes in children’s dentistry at her Central Park Dentistry: Pediatric Dental Care practice located at 30 Central Park South, New York, NY 10019.

To setup your pediatric dentistry consultation with Dr. Feldman, please call 212-486-1982 or fill out the contact form to receive more information.