A pediatric dental clinic differs from a traditional dental clinic in the demographic of patients they treat. While a general dentist will treat patients of varying ages and can even be used as a family dentist, a pediatric dentist usually only treats patients up to a certain age and often has additional training that makes them more skilled in treating younger patients.

While you can choose a general dentist for your children, there is peace of mind in choosing a practice that features pediatric dental professionals so your children get the custom dental care they need. When you choose a pediatric dental clinic, look for the following things so you make the best decision for your family overall.

Training in special needs care

Not all pediatric dental clinics have staff that are trained to work with children who have special needs like autism, sensory processing disorder, ADHD, and other special needs. If you have a child with special needs, then this is the first thing you should look for when looking for a pediatric dental specialist. Pediatric dentists who have trained to work with patients with special needs and differently-abled bodies are better able to bring custom comfort and care to children over dentists who may not have this special training.

Extended hours of operation

Many pediatric dental clinics know that the patients they treat come from busy families, often with both parents working or many hours of the day being tied up in school for their patients. For this reason, choosing a pediatric dental clinic that has extended hours of operation or weekend hours available is key to ensuring your children can be seen during times that are best for everyone.

Along this same note, choose a pediatric dental clinic that has emergency hours of operation as well. This may be especially the case for your family's situation if you have any kids in sports. Sports-related dental injuries account for up to nearly 40% of all dental injuries dentists see.

Engaging customer service

Choose a pediatric clinic that has great customer service, from your first phone call to an actual exam visit. Check out a pediatric dental clinic you're interested in to ensure the waiting area has ample distractions and other engaging things to keep children entertained and less stressed while they await their turn. Ask patients at any pediatric dental facility you're considering how long they usually wait for care and what they think of the dental professionals and their staff since recommendations and personal experiences from other people may give you the best idea of what kind of service you can expect from a dental practice.

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