Going to the dentist is not always easy for people. The fear of the dentist has a lot to do with it. There are many reasons for this fear of going to the dentist. Sometimes it is enough to see the dentist’s tools for the imagination to ignite and make us think of the painful sensations they could cause in the oral cavity.
Indeed, it dates from the Middle Ages, when first dental care consisted in particular in the extraction of the tooth responsible for the pain that the patient felt. Care techniques have evolved significantly since then.
This unreasonable fear affects both children and adults. Going to the dentist is not only for adults, but children are also affected.
Why should a child see a dentist?
Several parents reason as follows: my child is still young; he has just a few baby teeth. We will have time to deal with his teeth later when they are final. However, consulting a dentist is very important, even for the youngest who is just over a year old (or about six months after the first baby tooth). It is what the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends. Such precocity may seem somewhat exaggerated to us, especially since it is already necessary at this stage of their lives to respect the preventive appointments fixed every six months at the dentist. Follow-up is very important.
Indeed, being followed by a dentist is fundamental. This is an essential condition to guarantee good oral health for our young. This helps detect problems early and prevent them. Without the supervision of a dentist, the oral cavity of the child, whose oral hygiene is not necessarily perfect, can quickly accumulate problems which are likely to cause pain, problems with chewing and even digestion.
What type of dentist should children see?
In terms of oral health, babies, school children and adolescents are cared for by a pediatric dentist or pedodontist. Caring for the youngest can be more difficult than treating adults for at least two reasons. First, their teeth are constantly changing. Our pediatric dentists in Anjou have a mission to allow them to benefit from a beautiful healthy and functional mouth, regardless of the condition in which it is found. Second, a young child is more vulnerable to irrational fears that can traumatize them and continue until adulthood. These could disrupt all the care that will be necessary for the future, especially if the first experiences did not go well. This is the reason why pediatric dentists, in addition to their dental know-how and expertise, have been specially trained in childhood psychology. They can communicate better with young patients, effectively and delicately, to put them at ease and in confidence.