The
Facts About Pediatric Dentistry
People sometimes think of children
as "small adults," but
nothing could be further from the
truth. Children have completely
different emotional and physical
needs. When a child expresses fear
or apprehension, it is because
he truly feels threatened. By expecting
your child to react to situations
in a similar manner to you, you're
asking him not to be a child, which
really isn't fair.
This holds very true for visits
to doctors and dentists' offices.
A five year old walks into your
family dentist's office and he
sees large furniture, lots of long
pointy instruments, and a rather
large austere and "serious" environment.
On the other hand, a pediatric
dentist's office, including all
the staff and the atmosphere of
the office, caters specifically
to the emotional and physical stage
your child is in.
When To Start
Since 10% of children have decay
by two years and 40% by age four,
it makes good sense to have early
and regular dental visits beginning
at 12 months of age. One baby tooth
plus one dental visit equals zero
cavities.
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