"Should my child see a Children's Dentist in Kitchener?"
Historically, children would receive dental cleanings, assessment and treatment at their Family Dentist. More recently, there has been a trend among General Dentists whereby more and more children are being referred to a Pediatric or Children's Dentist for fillings and other treatment. There has also been a steady increase in children receiving sedation for completion of routine treatment. Accordingly, parents often ask us: "does my child really need to see a Pediatric Dentist in Kitchener?".
A Pediatric Dentist in Kitchener has completed 4 years of Dental School and then pursued an additional 3-year residency in Pediatric Dentistry. They are experts in dental and skeletal development. Additionally, Pediatric Dentists are experts in dental spacing and alignment. They are capable of completing complex treatment for children while keeping them happy.
A Pediatric or Children's Dentist is often necessary when a child is too anxious or active to tolerate dental treatment. A Kid's Dentist has training to provide advanced sedation (such as intravenous conscious sedation) to enable treatment. They are also experts when a baby tooth has to be prematurely extracted. In these cases they can remove the tooth and place a space maintaining device to ensure your child has enough room when the adult tooth starts to erupt.
Absolutely. For routine fillings, it is completely up to your Dentist to decide if they will provide treatment or if they prefer to refer. Some Family Dentists prefer not to treat children and refer child patients to the Children's Dentist in Kitchener.
It is a point of pride at our clinic to provide dental treatment to Children in a way that keeps them comfortable and happy. We treat 3-4 kids each day. It can be a unique and rewarding achievement and we do enjoy it!
If you would like to discuss treatment for your child or gain a second opinion, please call us at (519) 576-8160 or request a consult with Dr. Kyle Hornby here. We would be honored to take care of treatment for your little gem!
This article is intended to promote understanding of and knowledge about general oral health topics. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your Kitchener Dentist or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a dental condition or treatment.
