Pediatric Dentist
Just like you take your child to the pediatrician, it’s also important you take your child to a pediatric dentist. Pediatric dentists are dentists who have completed an additional two years of training in diagnosing and treating infants, children, and teenagers. Our Tampa pediatric dentist will not only polish your child’s teeth to keep them healthy, but will look for signs of tooth decay, developmental problems, and alignment issues with either the teeth or jaws.
Building a solid foundation for good dental hygiene includes education, treatment, prevention, proper diet, and developing good habits for brushing and flossing. At our Coast Dental Hyde Park kids dental care office in Tampa, we are specialists in pediatric dentistry, and work hard to ensure that your child’s initial dental experiences are all positive.
Pediatric Dentistry Information for Parents
As a parent, it’s important to understand how your child’s mouth and teeth develop. Prior to birth, your child’s first teeth are formed, but hidden beneath the gums. After birth, and over the next two to three years, these teeth, often called baby teeth, appear. Baby teeth function as placeholders and spacers for your child’s permanent teeth. Even though baby teeth are temporary, they can still develop cavities and infection, which can be painful, just like in adults.
Your child’s initial visit to the dentist should occur shortly after the first baby teeth appear. In fact, both the American Dental Association (ADA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that children receive oral health risk assessments every six months, starting at the age of one.
What to Expect During Your Visit
During this initial visit examination, your Coast Dental Hyde Park pediatric dentist team will:
- Examine your child’s teeth.
- Review and provide advice on feeding and dietary considerations.
- Provide instruction on proper dental hygiene techniques.
- Provide strategies for correcting ineffective habits that might prove detrimental to your child’s dental health.
- Clean the teeth and discuss any other treatments or procedures that your child may require.
Find a Tampa, FL, Pediatric Dentist
Every child deserves a good start in life, and establishing good dental hygiene is important in achieving this. Just like adults need regular cleanings to remove plaque and prevent cavities, so do kids. It is important that parents understand the importance of healthy teeth and good dental care, since both are important components in a child’s appearance as well as the child’s ability to eat and speak. To ask questions about dentistry for children in Tampa, FL, or to schedule kids dental care in the 33609 zip code, please call our Coast Dental Hyde Park office at (813) 871-6050. We look forward to ensuring your child’s good dental health.
