Here’s a question for which there isn’t really a wrong answer: Should you take your child to a family dentist or a pediatric dentist? The answer, of course, is “yes.” But if neither option is wrong, is one of them better? What’s the best option for ensuring your child gets the dental treatment she needs: family dentist or kids dentist in New Westminster? We’ll explain the essential differences between a family dentist and a kids dentist in New Westminster, then provide some of the advantages of each option before making our recommendation.
What is a family dentist?
Family dentists are dental generalists that see people of all ages (though usually not infants). Family dentists are not specialists per se, but provide services like preventative dentistry, eliminating tooth decay and filling cavities and watching for and dealing with emerging gum disease. If we were talking about doctors, a “family dentist” would be like a “family doctor” — not a specialist but capable of referring you to a specialist if some specific unique issue arose. What is a pediatric dentist?
Pediatric or kids’ dentists only treat children. They do not see patients of other ages. A kids dentist near you will typically treat children from infancy to approximately the age of 18. Kids’ dentists have the same basic education and training as family dentists plus another two or three years of specialist education in pediatric dentistry. Specialist training in pediatric dentistry includes education on issues like: surgery and diagnostics relating to kids; child psychology; treating children with drugs; best practices for dental imaging; managing and treating trauma suffered by children; sedation dentistry options for children; and supporting children with special physical, mental and emotional needs and their family.
| Advantages of Family Dentists | Advantages of Pediatric Dentists |
| Everyone in the family will be able to see the same dentist at the same clinic | Pediatric dentists have specialized training in the unique needs of the youngest patients, especially for children with special needs and dental issues specific to children (such as jaw and tooth development) |
| Many clinics that include family dentists also include multiple specialists as part of the same practice | Kids’ dentists only treat children, meaning they have more experience with children |
| All family dentists are fully trained to treat children (albeit without specialized training specific to children) | Kids’ dentists use kid-sized implements, tools and furniture to make treatment more comfortable for children |
Which is the better choice?
If your car had transmission issues, we’d recommend you see a transmission specialist rather than a general mechanic. If you were trying to choose the best doctor for a child, we’d recommend a pediatrician over a general practitioner. For the same reasons related to expertise, experience and the priority given to treating and relating to specific patients with unique needs, the best option is to take your child to a kid’s dentist in New Westminster. If the choice is between a family dentist in New Westminster or no dentist at all, we completely endorse taking your child to a family dentist. Thankfully, though, there are lots of dentists in New Westminster and New Westminster who love to and can expertly support children through their dental development and growth.
Don’t hesitate to contact the staff at Artis Dental Centre for help in finding the ideal kids’ dentist for your family. They’re experts in kids’ dental health and would love to meet you and your child.
