A pediatric dentist in Sterling Heights Michigan is a dentist who works with children. They typically provide treatment that focuses on the teeth, nervous system alignment, as well as problems such as speech and language, feeding difficulties, and sensory integration. Unlike many dentists who might work in general practice or specialize in certain areas of dentistry, such as orthodontics or oral surgery, pediatric dentists usually specialize in treating one area of dentistry.
As our world becomes increasingly reliant on technology, it’s more important than ever to maintain good oral health. Pediatric dentists are there to help protect your child’s future health and well-being by providing regular dental check-ups and cleaning and helping with any dental problems that might develop.
At each stage in a child’s development, the pediatric dentist will monitor their oral health and may provide additional treatments such as toothpaste selection or mouth guard fitting. Pediatric dentists are experienced in working with children of all ages from infancy through adulthood and have training that enables them to diagnose and treat many dental problems. The need for a pediatric dentist does not end when children reach school age. Their specialty continues until about the age of 18, when their patients become adult patients most of the time.
Here are some important functions pediatric dentists do:
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Education
Pediatric dentists share the responsibility of educating children and their parents about dental health. It is crucial to instill proper oral care habits in children to prevent future problems. At every visit, they will tell you why each preventive measure must be taken and also educate you on any new products that come out in the market.
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Prevention
Prevention is the key to good dental health for adults and even more so for children. Pediatric dentists play an important role in preventing future oral problems by providing professional advice on how to take proper care of a child’s teeth. The general rule with younger children is that any toothpaste is better than none.
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Monitoring growth
Monitoring a child’s growth is important because as the teeth are growing, they can actually affect the growth of the jaw and create an uneven bite. Medically known as malocclusion, even if there are no symptoms in a child, it is best for them to be monitored by a dentist every 6 months just to catch any issues early on before they become serious.
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Intervention
By the time children reach school age, they are usually seen by a general dentist as well as a pediatric dentist. At this stage, many parents will introduce fluoride treatments such as topical gels or drops to fight decay, but some may opt for a dental sealant (also known as “white fillings”). These treatments can be useful in the battle against early childhood decay.
