Question:
Are PD's a good get for kids that don't have any obvious problems. Or
should we just take them to our regular dentist? We have 3-year old
twins.
Answer:
Pediatric dentists are good for kids without obvious problems. If you
regular dentist is good with kids, you can take your kids there. If your
regular dentist is not good with kids, take them to a pediatric dentist or
another dentist who is good with kids.
You can find a pediatric dentist here: http://www.aapd.org/ (Only left,
click on Info for Parents).
I would also ask other parents in your social groups for pediatric dentist
recommendations. If any of your friends take their kids to your dentist, you
can ask how (s)he is with kids.
It really depends on your regular dentist. Some family
dentists are great with kids, and others are horrible. Does the
office seem kid friendly? Do they encourage you to bring
kids in to see your cleanings so they can learn what's going to
happen? Have you asked them how comfortable they are with young
children? Are parents welcome to stay with the kids during
cleanings and procedures? Can you ask any other parents whose
children go there for an evaluation? (And if you get a good
review, make sure you know the name of the hygienist and dentist
who are being recommended--don't assume everyone in the group is
equally good wiht kids.)
Our family dentist is great with little kids, so we all
go to the same dentist. Others aren't necessarily as lucky.
Having kids who are fine with going to the dentist is a great
blessing. I would never risk that by going with a dentist or
hygienist without some sort of basis for believing they'd be
pretty good with my kids.
We use our family dentist with great success.
If my family dentist was not kid friendly or if my kids had a lot of unusual
anxiety at the dentist I'd find a good pediatric one.
