Pediatric Dentists

Pedodontist

A pediatric dentist – sometimes referred to as a pedodontist – specializes in providing dental care to children from birth through adolescence. Pediatric dentists are required to complete additional post-doctoral education following their Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) before they can become certified by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. They typically have training in child psychology, and understand how to communicate with children in a way that puts them at ease.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tooth decay is one of the most common childhood diseases – in the U.S., it is manifested in more than a quarter of children between the ages of 2 and 5, and more than half of all children between the ages of 12 and 15.* Because of this, pediatric dentists place a strong emphasis on preventative care. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends that parents should schedule an appointment with a pediatric dentist within six months of the appearance of their child’s first tooth or by their child’s first birthday. While “baby teeth” (also known as primary or deciduous teeth) are eventually replaced by permanent teeth, pediatric dentists try to instill proper teeth cleaning habits as early as possible as the foundation for a lifetime of good oral health.

footnote:
* ORAL HEALTH: Preventing Cavities, Gum Disease, and Tooth Loss; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009.