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Finding a dentist your child feels comfortable with is one of the best things you can do for their smile. Here is what a pediatric dentist is, when to start, what to look for, and what to ask.
A pediatric dentist is a dentist who cares for infants, children and teenagers, including children with special health care needs. After dental school, they complete at least two more years of training focused on children. That training covers things like how children grow, helping nervous children, caring for children with medical conditions or disabilities, preventing cavities, and sedation.
Many general (family) dentists also see children, and that can work well too. What matters most is a team your child and your family feel comfortable with, and can get to.
Dentists for kids are used to little mouths and big questions. You can ask them anything!
A dental office you keep going back to is called a “dental home.” It is the place that gets to know your smile best.
The AAPD recommends a first dental check-up when the first tooth comes in, and no later than 12 months of age. It encourages every family to set up a dental home by then. Starting early gives the dentist time to help prevent problems, not just fix them.
The AAPD says a dental home should offer:
There is no single right choice. These are the things many families weigh up.
Notice how the team talks to your child and to you. Do they explain things in simple words and answer your questions?
Think about distance, opening hours, parking or bus routes. A visit you can reach is a visit you can keep.
Ask whether the office takes your insurance, Medicaid or CHIP, and what you would pay yourself.
It is the dental office your family keeps going back to, so the team gets to know you and your smile.
When the first tooth comes in, and no later than the first birthday.
A short phone call can tell you a lot. You might ask:
It is okay to visit or ask questions before you decide, and it is okay to look for a different dentist if the first one does not feel right.
Either can work. Pediatric dentists have at least two extra years of training in children’s care, and many general dentists also see children. What the AAPD stresses is that every child has a dental home: an ongoing relationship with a dentist who provides regular check-ups, prevention and care when something goes wrong. Choose the team your child and family feel comfortable with and can get to.
No. The AAPD recommends the first examination when the first tooth comes in, and no later than 12 months of age. Early visits focus on preventing problems and on advice for you about brushing, diet and habits. See First dental visit for what to expect.
Ask the office how they care for children with needs like your child’s, and share your child’s medical history, how they communicate, and what helps them feel calm. Pediatric dentists’ training includes caring for children with medical conditions and physical and developmental disabilities. The AAPD’s dental home policy includes people with special health care needs, and planning for the move to an adult dentist when the time comes. See Special healthcare needs for more.
See our page on Insurance and access to care. Your child’s doctor, your insurance plan, or your local health department can also help you find options near you.
Yes. It is okay to look for a different dentist if the first one does not feel right. Ask your old office to send your child’s records and X-rays to the new one.
The statements about pediatric dentists’ training, when to start, and what a dental home provides come from the AAPD documents below. The tips on finding and choosing a dentist, and the questions to ask, are general guidance from our team.
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This website is for education only and does not replace care from your dentist, physician, or emergency services.