Are you and your family brand-new to the Poway, CA community? Are you unhappy with your child’s current dentist and interested in finding a new provider who can better attend to their unique needs? Is your son or daughter’s first baby tooth just starting to poke through the gum line? Whatever the circumstances are, the Bright Pediatric Smiles team knows how challenging it can be to find a kid-friendly dentist you truly trust. Thanks to the internet, there’s an overwhelming number of choices waiting at the end of every Google search – but how do you know which dental office is best? Here are three important questions parents can ask themselves when looking for the best pediatric dentist in Poway:

ARE THEY A BOARD-CERTIFIED PEDIATRIC DENTIST?

Board-Certified pediatric dentists like Dr. Sam have gone the extra mile to prove that they’re more than qualified to help younger patients’ smiles shine brightly! To earn this distinction, you must successfully complete a series of voluntary examinations (both written and clinical in nature) and demonstrate a true dedication to lifelong learning. This certification is also awarded for a limited period of time and must be renewed annually, which means that Board-Certified pediatric dentists are regularly needing to demonstrate their exceptional patient care practices as well.

DO THEY SEE SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN?

This question won’t apply to every parent in need, but the answer can still be enlightening in its own way. Children with special behavioral or developmental needs often struggle to receive routine dental care at general practices because the doctor and staff haven’t received the proper training to manage their unique circumstances. This is concerning because special needs children often have a much higher risk of developing serious oral health problems over time. This can happen because of physical limitations, reduced saliva flow, and the consumption of certain medications that negatively impact dental wellbeing, to name a few factors.

Thankfully, pediatric dentists receive extensive specialty training with special needs cases and are quite skilled at relieving anxiety and creating a comfortable space for all kinds of children. Dr. Sam is also always happy to work with families in order to help them develop better oral hygiene routines at home that suit their son or daughter’s unique situation – she has plenty of wonderful tips!

At Bright Pediatric Smiles, we want to be your family’s ideal oral healthcare home for infants, toddlers, school-aged children, and teenagers alike. We hope that you’ll stop by our dental office soon and get to know us! If you’d like to learn more or schedule a proper appointment, contact us today in Poway, CA.