Everything You Need to Consider When Choosing a Children's Dentist

One of the first things you need to consider when choosing a pediatric dentist for your child is the dentist's experience. Not only should you consider how long they've been practicing but how much pediatric dentistry experience they have, specifically. 

Experience is important because it enables a dentist the time to fine-tune themselves. It not only allows them time to work on dental techniques but also helps them to perfect their bedside manner. When it comes to working with kids, the latter, in particular, is extremely important. 

We recommend choosing a dentist with at least a year of pediatric dentistry experience. If a dentist has established a solid reputation over this length of time, they'll likely provide quality service.

It's not just the dentist's experience that you need to check out but their reputation as well. In fact, you could argue that the dentist's reputation is the most important factor to consider. After all, reputation explains the level of quality that a dentist can provide. 

What you might wonder, though, is how to assess a specific dentist's reputation. The easiest way to do so is by reading online reviews. You can find these on sites like Facebook, Google, Yelp, and more. 

Type the name of the dentist into a search engine. This will bring up a list of links, some of which will have yellow stars beside them. These are the links that will contain reviews. 

Click through these reviews and use them to get a feel for each individual dentist. Odds are, these reviews will help answer the questions that you have. They will also alert you to any major flaws that a particular dentist might possess. 

Apart from looking at online reviews, you can simply consult with people in your life. Ask your friends and family whether their children have ever gone to a specific dentist on your list. A recommendation from a close friend or family member could be just the push you need to finalize your decision.

Do you have dental insurance? If so, you're advised to find a dentist who accepts it. If you don't, you'll have to pay the full costs that are charged to you. 

How do you determine whether a specific dentist accepts your insurance? You can start by using your insurance company's "in-network" provider tool. Most insurance companies have these on their website, allowing their customers to quickly and seamlessly find eligible providers.

Once you've found an "in-network" dentist and you've decided that you want to use their services, give them a call and verify that they do, indeed, accept your insurance. If they say that they do, they'll be good to go.

Another thing you should consider when choosing a pediatric dentist is the services that they provide. See, not all pediatric dentists provide all dental services. While some do, others provide only a small selection of services. 

How do you go about determining what services a specific dentist provides? You can start by looking at their website. Most dentists will have a 'Services' page covering all the individual services that they offer. 

If a 'Services' page doesn't exist for a specific dentist, you should instead just call them and ask them about their services verbally. 

Now, you might be thinking: my child doesn't need anything more than a routine dental exam. What's the point in checking for other services at this point? 

It's all about the future. Yes, your child might not need additional services now but they could someday. And if that day comes, you don't want to have to make them switch dentists, especially right before an intensive procedure. 

Some of the services that pediatric dentists provide include:

Children are advised to have their teeth and gums checked by a professional 2 times each year. General checkups help patients spot both existing and impending problems. This is important, as it enables them to combat these problems early in their existence before they've done much harm. 

Essentially every pediatric dentist in existence provides general checkups. That said, there are some specialists out there who might not.

Approximately 59% of Canadian children between the ages of 12 and 19 have had at least one cavity. This means that there's a fairly high chance of your child eventually needing cavity filling. Most pediatric dentists provide this service, but you should still make sure before choosing them.

Another service to consider is orthodontic treatment. Your child may have crooked or misaligned teeth that eventually need correction. While you always have the choice to take your child to an independent orthodontist, you will likely find it easier if your child's existing dentist is capable of providing such treatment. 

You should inquire about both traditional braces and Invisalign braces. Both of these have the potential to help your child in the future.

At some point, your child may chip, crack, or lose one of their teeth. In order to return their teeth to their prime state, they'll need to use cosmetic dentistry services. These services run the gamut from crowns to bridges to dental implants to teeth whitening and more. 

While many pediatric dentists provide these services, some don't. Be sure to check before choosing your child's dentist.

Getting your child to the dentist can be a challenge, especially if you work in the middle of the day. Yes, you might be able to get some time off so that you can bring them in during traditional work hours. However, if that's not a possibility, you'll need to find a dentist whose office is open outside of those hours. 

Be sure to check your prospective dentist's website before making any calls. They'll likely have their open hours listed on their website's 'Contact' page, and probably in the header and footer of the website as well.

The location of the dentist matters as well. After all, you don't want to have to drive to a different town or city just to get dental services for your child. In fact, doing so could just build up negative anticipation for your child, making for an even more stressful experience than what would already be present. 

That said, we advise choosing a dentist within 30 minutes of your home. There should be plenty of options for dentists within that time scope.

Visiting the dentist can be a stressful and anxiety-inducing experience, even for adults. For kids, it can be downright scary. This is why, when choosing a pediatric dentist, you need to get a good idea as to whether your child will feel comfortable with them. 

Young kids' minds can sometimes be set at ease by toys and kid-friendly decor. As such, it might be a good idea to choose a dental office that provides such things. 

It can also be a good idea to call the office before arriving for the first appointment. This helps you determine the tone and atmosphere of the office.

One last thing to consider is whether your child qualifies for free dental care. In the province of Ontario, many kids 17 years of age and under can receive free dental care under the Healthy Smiles program. 

This program is specifically designed for low-income families. If you believe that you make less than the average income for your family size in your area, you should give the program a closer look. You can do so by clicking on the link posted above.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When all is said and done, there's no shortcut to choosing a children's dentist. You have to do your research and you have to put in the time. But as long as you use the advice detailed in this article, you should be successful in finding your child's first dentist. 

Are you looking for a pediatric dentist in Mississauga or Stoney Creek? Daas Dentistry has you covered. 

Contact us now to schedule your child's first dental appointment!