You want the best for your child, right? You do your utmost to find the best pediatrician, the best daycare, the best school, the best babysitter, the best friends. When it comes to their dental health, you should also want to make sure your child is getting the most expert care available. In this case, you need a pediatric dentist in Poway. But can’t you just bring them to your general dentist? How is a pediatric dentist different from a general dentist? Get the answers to your questions here in this post.
What’s the difference between a pediatric dentist and a general dentist?
Think of a pediatric dentist as a pediatrician but for your child’s teeth. Your pediatrician is a doctor who specializes in child-specific care. Likewise, your pediatric dentist is a dentist who specializes in caring for your child’s dental health. A general dentist has a wide breadth of dentistry knowledge, allowing them to treat patients of potentially all ages, including children, but their expertise in kid-specific dental issues may be limited.
What does it mean to be a board-certified pediatric dentist?
When you hear “board-certified,” do you really know what that means? For a pediatric dentist, it means reaching Diplomate status with the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, the only certifying board for pediatric dentistry recognized by the American Dental Association and sponsored by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.
To become certified with the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, a dentist must pass a rigorous written qualifying examination and an oral clinical examination covering all areas of information on which a pediatric dentist should be knowledgeable. Certification is awarded for a limited time period, and they must renew their certification annually to maintain their status.
To know if your children’s dentist in Poway is board certified, you can consult the directory on the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry’s website.
What can a pediatric dentist do for my child?
First of all, a compassionate, board-certified pediatric dentist can make all the difference for your child’s attitude toward their dental care. By catering their services to young patients, your pediatric dentist can create a welcoming, comfortable environment for your child to have positive experiences with dental care, preventing dental anxiety or fear in the future. This can set them on the path of good oral health for a lifetime!
Also, choosing an expert in dental issues specific to children means that you can rest assured that your child’s dental health is in capable hands. Should a dental emergency or a dental problem ever arise, they will know how to handle the situation and restore your child’s happy, healthy smile.
Your child’s dental care deserves specialized attention from someone who is an expert both technically and personally in dealing with children and their specific needs during these precious early years in life. By selecting a board-certified pediatric dentist, you help ensure that your child’s smile gets the care it needs for lifelong health.
About the Author
Dr. Sambath Tiep, also called “Dr. Sam,” has been a board-certified pediatric dentist since 2010 at Bright Pediatric Smiles. When she graduated with her dental degree from USC’s Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, she was on the Dean’s List. After her pediatric dentistry program at Interfaith Medical Center, she became Chief Resident there, supervising both pediatric and general dental residents. To schedule an appointment with her, call (858) 251-3313 or click here.