When choosing medical care for our kids, there are a lot of traits that are important to look for. It certainly has to be someone knowledgeable and skilled, but beyond that, you want to choose someone that’s going to have a good attitude and be able to get along well with your child. In the case of child-focused dentistry, that trait becomes even more important, as this is someone who’s going to be teaching and reinforcing good dental habits that will stay with your child for the rest of his or her life.
When looking for the right dentist to work with your child, one of the best tools you have is your own pair of ears. Ask around, and especially talk to other parents in the area to find out who they go to and who they trust. Credentials are also highly important, but there’s no real substitute for firsthand, anecdotal evidence. Another good consideration is the size of the practice, and the number of patients the dentist is currently working with. While a busy office is a good sign, you want to make sure that your child’s dentist will be available for your child and that making appointments won’t be a huge hassle. Remember also that this is a person that you’ll be seeing often, and that the person you choose as your child’s dentist should be someone that you get along with as well.
A great way to find the right dentist to work with your children is to treat it like you’re hiring an employee. Don’t be afraid to conduct some interviews, where you can sit down and see what your potential choice is like before committing your child to an appointment. Though references are very helpful, it’s certainly a good idea to personally judge the way a dentist comes across. After all, your own parental instincts are important to pay attention to when entrusting the care of your child’s teeth to a dentist who focuses their practice on working with children. This is someone who’s going to be spending a lot of time with your child, and you want to make sure that he or she is trustworthy.
When choosing the right dentist for your children, it’s important to be thorough. Ideally, the person that you choose will be able to take care of your child for years to come, and making the right decision the first time will save a lot of wasted time and money. One of the great things about having a dedicated dentist working with your child as he or she grows is that the dentist will be personally familiar with your child’s dental history, and will be more likely to notice things earlier, like the potential need for braces or a retainer.
Dr. Marta Penman is a general dentist who has chosen to specifically work only with children. She welcomes the chance to meet you and your children! Call us today at (760) 434-7374 to schedule your next appointment!
