The struggle is real when it comes to selecting a dentist for your children. Given below are the  major points that you can look for while making the decision. 

• What are their Qualifications and Experience? 

It is important to look for the qualification and experience of the dentist. A specialized  dentist with a good amount of working experience is the right choice. In India, the qualifications of pediatric dentist involve an MDS, Pediatric Dentist.

Another aspect which the parent’s can look into is the experience and reviews of the doctor. There are various testimonials, reviews and before-after pictures available today on the internet through which the parent can rummage and literally find a ‘perfect fit’ for their child!

• Whether the environment is Children Friendly? 

The overall environment of the clinic plays one of the crucial factors in making the children comfortable. Generally, children prefer colorful and interactive surroundings to assimilate into their comfort zone. Presence of different toys, paintings of their favorite cartoons and a light-hearted atmosphere is what makes them feel lively and home. And this can definitely help the parents to avoid all the hassle that involves when they are getting their kids ready for the dentist’s visit. 

Apart from having a pleasant environment, the clinic must be upgraded and up to date with the latest technological advancements. A well-equipped clinic with a good and child-friendly waiting area symbolizes a ready place to treat and take care of all oral health care treatments, including all emergencies; and emergencies when it comes to kids can be like war-time scenarios for parents. (literally!)

It is the job of the pediatric  dentist to create such an environment where the children feel safe and joyful. The  environment can make or break the children’s experience on a visit to the clinic and hence  considering this factor is also important while choosing the right dentist for your children. 

• What kind of services do they offer and what is their unique approach? 

The services offered differ from dentist to dentist. A pediatric dentist who is specialized  and addresses all your needs along with consultation is a good choice.

The next question that the parents should ask is what exactly is the dentist’s approach? Having a proactive and preventative approach is what sets a pediatric dentist apart. The dentist should urge the parents to involve themselves in regular and timely visits to the clinic during their child’s growing years as those years are some of the most crucial one’s when it comes to oral health. The baby’s first teething, what can be done during that time, taking care of the gums, the spurting of milk-teeth, the falling off of milk-teeth and all other aspects can be analyzed and taken care of during these initial visits.

• How do they respond to Emergencies? 

This is one of the important factors that one should look for. One should go for a pediatric  dentist who can manage emergency cases and is available at the required time.  

• Behavioral managerial skills

Nothing cheers up a kid more than a good chat with him/her on their favorite topics. Pediatric dentists are trained in such a way that they communicate with kids in a pleasing way by indulging them in questions, talking to them about their favorite things, variation in tones and other tactics. This helps the child to form a  bond with the dentist whom they start to look up to as a person who they can trust. This greatly helps during the treatment process. 

Also, certain moments can arrive during the treatment where the kid can tend to get nifty. Handling such a situation with utmost calm and patience is necessary. A pediatric dentist with good behavioral management skills can definitely pave the way for a smooth and hassle-free treatment.

• Importance to consultation

A one-on-one consultation is a very important factor as it covers all the above aspects. It makes the parents analyze the qualifications and training of the dentist, the child’s comfort level with the overall environment, the child’s rapport with the dentist, the dentist’s approach, so on and so forth. 

The outcome of the consultation is what matters the most as it becomes a decisive point of whether to begin the treatment or not. Hence, giving importance to the consultation is quite necessary to have a smooth road ahead. 

Picking a dentist for a child is definitely a cumbersome task. However, we hope that this blog made a lot of difficulties easier for parents who are in search of dentists to make their kids’ smile even brighter!