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Pediatric Dentistry in Port Moody

Pediatric Dentists: What Makes Them Different from Traditional Dentists?

You may wonder how a pediatric dentist near me is different from the services rendered by a regular dentist. Parents may be concerned about whether or not the dentist who is about to take care of their children is fully qualified.

Following is a brief overview of what is needed to qualify as a port moody dentist specializing in caring for kids’ dental issues.

Qualifications and Education

The Canadian Dental Association recognizes nine dental specialties, including pediatric dentistry. Every dentist attends dental school, and some begin practicing dentistry immediately after graduation.

Dental school graduates must complete an accredited advanced education program in pediatric dentistry to be eligible to practice as a pediatric dentist in Canada. They must be certified by a Provincial Dental Regulatory Authority as a specialist.

Pediatric dentists are fully trained to care for children’s dental health of all ages, from infants to teenagers.

What Pediatric Dentists Specialize In

Pediatric Dentistry in Port Moody, BC, will deal with a variety of dental health care requirements regularly, such as:

  • Oral health examinations for infants, including cavity risk assessment
  • Oral hygiene, checkups, fluoride treatments, and nutritional and dietary recommendations are part of preventive dental care.
  • Thumb sucking and using a pacifier as a pacifier are two habits that need to be broken.
  • Early orthodontic evaluation and treatment – teeth straightening and bite correction (malocclusion)
  • Fillings are used to repair cavities or flaws in the teeth.

The Role Parents Play to Promote Proper Dental Health in Children

There are specific measures parents may take to promote healthy oral habits. One should have a list handy to help our children stay clear from various oral health issues.

Wouldn’t it be handy to have a list of dos and don’ts provided by a dentist near me concerning oral health tips for children?

Following below is a dos and don’ts list:

  • Make a point of getting your child to brush and floss at an early age. The earlier they do this, the fewer chances for them to pick up bad habits. Parents should start the cleaning process from the infant stage twice a day. It can begin as soon as their first tooth makes its appearance. Just use a soft cloth or infant toothbrush. Introduce them to toothpaste at the age of 2 to 3 years old.
  • Do make a habit of flossing your child’s teeth the minute they have two or more teeth touching each other. This would usually happen once they are at least two years old.
  • Be sure to schedule a future appointment with your local dentist once they’ve celebrated their first birthday. Alternatively, you could pay a visit to your dentist within the first six months of your first tooth erupting.
  • Don’t allow regular exposure to sugary drinks or foods. Instead, limit these to mealtimes. The worst thing is to enable your kids to drink sugary beverages.
  • Your child should go to bed with nothing else but pure water by their bedside.
  • Don’t permit your two-year-old to use a pacifier as it can result in serious dental issues like overbite and eventually contribute to language development problems and poor nutrition.
  • Do set an example for them. Children are copycats and will mirror what they see their parents do. Please help your child so their little smile can turn into a healthier, bigger smile.
  • Routine cleanings go a long way to ensure a dental hygiene routine becomes part of your child’s daily habits. It is advised that parents encourage regular visits to the dentist, so they can take a closer look at their kid’s mouth to ensure there are no dental issues that passed undetected.
  • Don’t wait for your child’s teeth to hurt first before you go to a dentist.
  • Make a habit of getting regular cleanings and examinations from Mint Dental.
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