When your child becomes a teenager, it may seem like it’s time to start taking them to a general dentist, such as the one you yourself see twice a year for routine preventive care. But the truth is, there are significant advantages to keeping your teen with a pediatric dental practice. Pediatric dentists aren’t just experts when it comes to baby teeth—they’re specially trained to care for smiles from infancy through adolescence. Here are three things to keep in mind.
1. Teens Have Specific Dental Needs
Adolescence brings unique oral health challenges that pediatric dentists are especially equipped to handle. They’re at an increased cavity and gum disease risk, often due to their diet and sometimes their lifestyle. They often need or are currently undergoing orthodontic care. And, they could also be at an increased risk of dental injury if they participate in sports. Pediatric dentists know just how to navigate teens through all of the potential setbacks their smiles might face as they grow.
2. Trust Has Already Been Established
Teens may not always show it, but many still experience dental-related anxiety. Staying with the same dentist they’ve been seeing means they’re going to be in a comfortable environment with friendly faces. This continuity of care can also go a long way towards their smile’s wellness, but it greatly reduces any anxiety and makes teens more likely to keep up with their visits moving forward.
3. Potential Wisdom Teeth Issues
Wisdom teeth, which are the third set of molars located at the back of the mouth, typically come in between the late teenage years and early 20s. Since most people don’t have proper room for them in their mouths, they tend to cause pain, crowding, or other issues—plus, they’re very tricky to keep clean. Pediatric dentists can help detect problems that occur in wisdom teeth even before they erupt and can coordinate extraction if necessary to protect your teen’s future dental health.
The bottom line is, pediatric dentistry can essentially “grow” alongside your child as their needs change, even through the late teenage years. If you’re unsure about their specific needs, don’t hesitate to let their dentist know; they’ll certainly have an answer!
About the Practice
Under the leadership of Dr. Myles Clancy and Dr. Sadaf Mostafavian, our team here at Simply Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics has proudly served smiles in Nashua and the nearby communities for several years. We offer a wide range of preventive, restorative, and emergency dentistry services for children of all ages, from infants to full-grown teens. If you have any questions about the blog or you’re ready to schedule an appointment for your teen, don’t hesitate to contact us online or by phone for more information. Telephone: (603) 880-5002.