Many Burlingame area pediatric dentists provide braces for their young patients. California parents with a child who needs braces may wonder whether to seek an orthodontist for their child’s braces treatment or stick with their pediatric dentist.
Pediatric dentist or orthodontist for kids’ braces?
Let’s describe the differences between a pediatric dentist and an orthodontic dentist. First off, both professionals graduate from dental school. From that point on, they follow different schooling paths.
Orthodontists
After graduation from dental school, orthodontists complete a fully accredited orthodontic residency program. These programs generally take two to three years.
Orthodontists have specialty training to treat the following conditions:
- Missing teeth
- Crowded teeth
- Widely-spaced teeth
- Impacted teeth
- Bite problems such as overbite, underbite, or cross-bite
Pediatric Dentists
A pediatric dentist has training in pediatric dental care in addition to training in general dentistry. The specialty dental training also takes from two to three additional years after graduating from dental school.
A pediatric dentist can guide parents on issues such as:
- Preventative children’s dental care
- Pacifier use, thumb-sucking, and teething
- Dental sealants
- Late-emerging teeth
Both orthodontists and pediatric dentists and hygienists use instruments that fit in your youngster’s mouth. They both have experience making children feel safe and comfortable during treatment. Both professionals understand the unique characteristics of developing teeth.
This is what the American Association of Orthodontists has to say:
Orthodontists are uniquely qualified, by virtue of education and scope of practice, as experts who have the skills and experience to give your child a healthy and beautiful smile. The American Association of Orthodontists
Your orthodontist and pediatric dentist are both important members of your child’s healthcare team. If you have questions about children’s orthodontic treatment, give us a call at the number below to schedule a consultation.
Contact Burlingame Smile Studio:
650-231-2680
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
1740 Marco Polo Way Ste 12
Burlingame, California
940101
