Pediatric dentist: what is the difference to the dentist?

Is it really necessary to take my child to a special pediatric dentist? Not necessarily! Because every dentist is first trained to treat children, dentist Karl-Georg Pochhammer confirms to the Kölner Stadtanzeiger.  So we don’t necessarily have to look for a specialist for our children.

It is important that children get to know visiting the dentist in the first place – preferably before anything needs to be done. Karl-Georg Pochhammer recommends the first appointment as soon as the first milk tooth has erupted. In this way, children get to know the processes without having a bad experience with dentists at the same time.

Pediatric Dentist vs. “Normal” Dentist: What’s the Difference?

So what exactly does a pediatric dentist do differently than a “normal” dentist? One major difference is that pediatric dentists are specially trained to meet the needs of children. They receive special training and further education in which they learn, for example, how to best deal with the fears of their little patients.

A pediatric dentist also understands that children are very emotional and that experiences from the dental practice can also affect oral hygiene at home. It is therefore immensely important that the pediatric dentist creates a pleasant atmosphere in which the child feels comfortable. For this reason, the equipment of the children’s dental practice differs significantly from that of a “normal” practice. Because a child-friendly environment creates trust and takes away children’s fear of the dentist.

But it can also make sense from a professional point of view to choose a children’s dentist. Because milk teeth are structured differently than permanent ones. For example, they have a much thinner enamel. Caution is therefore required during treatment, because the doctor can reach the nerve of the tooth more quickly. Pediatric dentists know this very well because, as experts, they have a trained eye for primary and transitional dentition.

Statutory health insurance usually pays for visits to the dentist, including children’s dentists, twice a year as a preventive measure. Annual check-ups are advisable, as caries spreads more quickly in milk teeth due to the thinner enamel.

Advisable: be a role model!

Whether the visit to the dentist is a success also depends on the parents. Many tend to transfer their own fears to the child. Experts advise against negative sentences, for example: “If you don’t brush your teeth, you have to go to the dentist and that really hurts.” From the outset, children associate the dentist with something bad, with someone who will “hurt” them. Instead, positively worded sentences are recommended, for example: “It’s very easy, and the tooth will be happy when it’s finally really clean and shiny again” or “The dentist will be happy when he sees your nicely brushed teeth”. .

Here you can find out what else you should know and consider about your child’s first visit to the dentist .