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Helpful Pediatric Dentistry Tips!

Pediatric Dentists & Family Dentists: Choosing The Right One

by Dr. Steve Whittemore, D.D.S. | Published November 27, 2018

When it comes to choosing the best dental health route for your child, there is a lot to consider. It’s important to look for a place that will properly develop your child’s teeth as well as make them feel welcome when they come in for appointments. When deciding whether a family dentist or a pediatric dentist, here are the things you should take into consideration.

Training And Education For Pediatric Dentists

Every dentist has to go through nearly the exact same training to become certified. Every dentist has to obtain their undergraduate degree before moving onto dental school to earn their Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or their Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (DMD). From there, newly licensed dentists have a handful of options to choose from. They can either join a practice, open their own, go on to earn their PhD,  or go on to specialize in one of the nine dental specialties available.

Dentists who wish to become pediatric dentists must complete two more years of school through a residency program. During these two years, they focus on dental growth and development for children, preventative dental care, child behavior studies, and treatment of children with special needs. Every one of our doctors completed their training at highly regarded institutions throughout the United States. You can learn more about Drs. Barsetti, Percival, and Whittemore’s post-graduate training here.

Why Choose A Pediatric Dentist?

The extended training and education that pediatric dentists receive diversifies their skill sets with children of all age. Here are some advantages you and your child will benefit from with a pediatric dentist.

Offices And Tools Made For Children

Family dentists generally use universal tools that are made for all sizes of mouths. Pediatric dentists have specially designed tools that are more kid-friendly. Not only that, we make sure that our Ankeny and Des Moines offices create an environment for a kid to be a kid in! Details like these can make a large difference in a child’s comfort level when visiting the dentist.

Interceptive And Anticipatory Dental Care

As mentioned before, part of a pediatric dentist’s focus is to make sure that your child grows into their teeth. As baby teeth and adult teeth are coming in and out of their mouths, attention to detail is needed to make sure that proper growth is occurring. Drs. Barsetti, Percival, and Whittemore specialize in interceptive orthodontics and anticipatory guidance for children of all ages.

Dental Care For Special Needs Children

Providing dental care for special needs children can be difficult for dentists who do not have the proper training. That is why pediatric dentists specialize for these types of situations. If you are the parent of a special needs child, contact us today to learn more about how we can make your child as comfortable as possible.

Schedule Your Child’s Dental Appointment Today

If you still haven’t had the chance to meet our newest dentist, Dr. Percival, get to know him here! Pediatric Dentistry of Central Iowa’s dental and administrative team look forward to seeing you child at our offices! If your child is a first time patient with us, complete our New Patient Consent Form before coming in for an appointment. We look forward to seeing you!