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Choosing Board-Certified Pediatric Dentists - Palm Harbor, FL

What Exactly is a Pediatric Dentist?

What is the difference between a general dentist and a pediatric dentist? Why should you choose one over the other for your child? Can’t all dentists treat children? While it is true that anyone with a dental degree is qualified to provide care for a child, pediatric dentists are specialists who have received training specifically for treating infants, toddlers, children, and teens. Because a child’s mouth grows and develops so quickly, this extra know-how can make a big difference in the quality of your child’s care. Thankfully for Palm Harbor families, two certified pediatric dentists can be found right here at Dr. Maggie Davis & Associates.

What Does Board-Certification Mean?

In order to become a dentist, you have to go to dental school, but not all dentists are pediatric dentists. To gain this distinction, a dentist then has to complete a dedicated pediatric residency, in which they learn about the unique aspects of treating children. They are regularly evaluated by more senior clinicians during this residency, and eventually, they have to take an exam to demonstrate their prowess. If they pass all these obstacles, viola¸ you have a pediatric dentist! Both Dr. Maggie and Dr. Lorielle went through this process and apply the knowledge they gained every single day. Additionally, these certifications are renewed every two years, requiring several written and oral exams. In addition to board-certification, Dr. Maggie is a Diplomate in the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, which is a prestigious qualifying status that is earned by fewer than three percent of all dentists.

How Does Board-Certification Help Your Child?

Children are different from adults. Science has proven this, and your daily experiences as a parent have likely driven this point home time and time again. The extra training undertaken by pediatric dentists familiarizes them with the distinct aspects of children’s smiles at each age so they can spot problems early and even see signs of ones that might occur in the future. This allows them to intervene and prevent more serious issues, whereas a general dentist might not notice that anything is amiss until there is pain or dysfunction. And, pediatric dentists also have a lot more experience helping children with special needs, so they know how to accommodate children with various mental and physical conditions and provide what they need in the most comfortable way possible.