A pediatric dentist is specifically trained to diagnose and treat the specific needs of children. Typically, a pediatric dentist has been trained two to three years in addition to dental school, in a university or hospital-based setting.

It is recommended that children should be seen either by the time they get their first tooth or by age 1, whichever comes first.

An oral examination of the child is performed. This may include a cleaning and x-rays, but not always.

It's very important that the baby, or primary, teeth are taken care of and kept in place until they come out naturally. Primary teeth help your child learn to chew properly and are an important part of speech development. They also create and save the necessary space for a child's incoming permanent teeth.

Typically, pediatric dentists see patients from birth to 16 years of age. Special-needs patients are typically seen until 21 years of age.

Thumb sucking and pacifier use can become a problem if they go on for a long time. Most children stop these habits on their own, but if they're still sucking their thumb, fingers or a pacifier past the age of three, some form of treatment may be needed.

While behavior management techniques are part of a pediatric dentist's specialized training, some patients may ultimately benefit from some sort of sedation during treatment.

Sealants work by filling in the grooves and crevices on the chewing surface of a child's back teeth. This helps keeps food particles from becoming trapped in hard to clean areas, which could lead to decay. The application is fast and comfortable – it can effectively protect the teeth for many years.

There's very little risk with dental X-rays. At Buena Vista Pediatric Dentistry, we're careful to limit the the amount of radiation to which your child might be exposed. Lead aprons and digital X-rays ensure safety and minimize the amount of radiation necessary. Today's digital X-rays emit much less radiation when compared to the traditional X-rays of the past.