Childhood is an absolutely crucial time in a person’s dental health. The habits that children learn for keeping their teeth healthy can stick with them for a lifetime. Additionally, kids can have quite a few dental health concerns in their formative years. That is what our kids dentist in Cedar Falls is for. Using specialized training, they can provide dental care for your kids that keeps the whole family happy.
At West First Dental in Cedar Falls, we focus on providing our patients of all ages with comfortable and efficient treatment. From start to finish, we work with you to ensure any treatment your child receives is quick, comfortable, and keeps them health. Contact us today to schedule your appointment for our kids dentist in Cedar Falls.
What Is a Kids Dentist?
A kids dentist, also called a pediatric dentist, is someone who specialized in the oral health of kids, ranging from infants to teens. While kids are less likely to develop serious dental concerns such as decay, they can still require treatment from time to time. A kids dentist also specializes in providing kid-friendly routine dental visits.
Thanks to TV and pop culture, many kids are scared of going to the dentist and may have a bad opinion of such visits before they have ever seen a dentist. A kids dentist works to fix that, providing a comfortable and enjoyable experience that provides both care and learning opportunities for kids. Our goal is not only to address any current dental problems, but provide children with the knowledge and tools they need to have a lifetime of dental health.
Common Dental Treatments for Kids
Our treatments for children tend to focus on preventative care, stopping problems before they arise. We do this through health exams and risk assessment from an early age. With information from exams, we can provide instructions for helping your child develop early healthy habits, even from infancy. Preventative care also includes routine cleaning and fluoride treatments to prevent cavities or decay.
If your child suffers from early age tooth decay, we can also provide restorative treatments to get their health back on track. This can include repairing teeth with cavities or treating gum disease or any pediatric dental health concerns.
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Kids are also known for falling down, bumping themselves, or otherwise getting minor injuries. It’s all part of growing up. However, dental injuries definitely warrant an appointment. Even minor chips or cracks may require treatment, so we recommend coming in for an appointment if your child has any mouth-based injuries.
Why a Kids Dentist Is Important
A kids dentist received special training to help children with treatment and encourage lifelong healthy habits. Our kids dentist in Cedar Falls also ensures that your children have a positive experience at our office. Our goal is provide calm, friendly, and professional treatment so children do not end up feeling anxious about dental care.
Additionally, a kids dentist must be familiar with different equipment for treatment children. This unique expertise allows them to provide comprehensive care that is tailored to a child’s developing dental situation.
Helping Kids With Dental Anxiety
Dental anxiety is highly common and often prevents people from getting the dental help they need, putting their oral health at risk. Kids especially can have negative opinions of going to the dentist, often thanks to portrayals in TV series and films.
However, parents and their kid’s dentist can work together to reduce any dental anxiety. Common ways to help kids with this challenge include:
- Starting dental visits from an early age. This can help them get used to dental care early on.
- Using positive words when speaking about the dentist. Kids trust their parents and will take any descriptions they use of the dentist to heart.
- Include fun activities before or after a dentist visit. This builds a positive association between dental visits and fun afterward. However, be careful not to turn it into bribing your child. Instead, let them see it as a reward for caring about their health and being responsible.
- Have a “practice” visit where you introduce your child to the office and dentist but don’t have any treatment. This lets them adjust more gradually instead of getting too many new experiences at once.
- Ask your dentist about any additional suggestions that might be ideal for your child’s unique experience.