Can a General Dentist Take Care of Your Kid’s Oral Health?

Almost any parent would agree that when you have a child, you have more questions than answers. These questions may stem from the simplest of issues to complex issues, but the bottom line is that you will have to get answers to some of these questions so that your kid can develop as they should.

One essential question is always about dental health. At times, most first-time parents who have several kids would often wonder if they should seek pediatric dentistry or general dentistry in Los Gatos.

If this is one of your concerns, continue reading to understand more about general dentistry for kids.

Can General Dentists Treat Children?

You might wish that the answer was a straight yes or no, but it isn’t. In fact, it all depends on your needs. You will come to realize that our general dentist in Los Gatos is capable of dealing with most of the dental issues that your little one will face.

You will also choose the type of dentist depending on your unique family situation. So, the question still remains, is a general dentist capable of treating your child?

To answer this question, let’s check out the qualifications of a general dentist.

After graduating from an accredited dental school, a general dentist will have a degree in dentistry. What’s more, for a general dentist to practice dentistry, they will also have to fulfill the requirements of state licensing boards.

You might have noticed that dentists might have certain initials such as DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) or DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine) following their names. These titles simply distinguish them based on their school’s degree. But the training and education are the same between the two dentists who have those initials.

So, can they treat your child? Yes, they can! However, always know that a pediatric dentist has specialized in dealing with kids.

When to Use a General Dentist

A general dentist and a pediatric dentist have training in oral health and oral care. Our general dentist in Los Gatos can deal with dental issues that most kids face, and others may even dedicate a huge portion of their careers caring for kids.

What’s more, most parents may opt to see a general dentist so that the whole family can receive dental care at the same place. So, this means that you can schedule appointments and then come with your entire family. Our general dentist can care for people in every age bracket, from your infant to grandparents.

When to Use a Pediatric Dentist

As mentioned earlier, a pediatric dentist has specialized in dealing with kids. Therefore, they are best suited to deal with a bit more severe issues. Even though a general dentist can deal with almost any issue thrown at them, it is best to look for a pediatric dentist when the issue is a bit more complex.

Also, if your kid has some behavioral issues, a pediatric dentist is best suited to deal with them. These dentists have been trained in behavior modification and can help these kids get the oral care they need.

Why Is Oral Hygiene So Important for Children?

Dental issues may cause countless kids to experience complications in childhood and may continue into adulthood. So, why is it vital for your kids to have excellent oral hygiene? Here are some reasons:

• Overall Health

It’s a common misconception that dental health is somehow disconnected from your overall health. But this isn’t true. Dental health will always affect your overall health in many ways. For instance, dental health affects your kid’s physical health since dental issues will have a ripple effect on their feeding, speaking, smiling, and proper breathing.

Poor oral health will also cause pain or discomfort, and at times, kids may fall sick because of tooth infections.

• Chronic Medical Conditions

It is well-known that dental infections might lead to chronic medical conditions. For example, cardiovascular disease and periodontitis are highly correlated. Also, diabetes and stroke are linked to poor oral health.

• Psychosocial Consequences

Very poor oral health may cause several psychosocial consequences throughout childhood and adolescence. Suppose your kid has dental malocclusion; it may likely result in perceived rejection by others. Also, if their front teeth are unhealthy or injured, they may think that they are unattractive, and so they may become shy and show signs of social withdrawal.

So, if you wish to bring your kids to get checked by our dentist, contact us at Mountain Bay Dental Implants and Orthodontics to schedule an appointment.