What Is a Paediatric Dentist?
A paediatric dentist, or specialist in children's dentistry, is qualified and specially trained in the branch of dentistry that is concerned with preventive and therapeutic oral health care for children from birth through to adolescence, and especially for those with special needs. Paediatric dentistry encompasses the management of the orofacial concerns of children that may be associated with behavioural, medical, physical, mental and developmental disabilities.
How Do Paediatric Dentists Differ from General Dentists?
Paediatric Dentists are specialist dentists. To qualify as a paediatric dentist, they must successfully complete three years of full-time postgraduate training, which includes both clinical and research work, following our general dentistry training. This specialist training takes place in both University and Hospital settings under the guidance of practising dental and medical specialists.
After completing their training, specialist paediatric dentists must register their qualification as a specialist with the dental board and AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency).
Paediatric Dentists may also be known as paedodontists or specialists in paediatric dentistry.
Can My General Dentist Call Themselves a Specialist Paediatric Dentist?
Many general dentists provide dental care for children; however, only a specialist dentist registered with AHPRA who has completed the additional training can be referred to as a paediatric dentist.
While your general dentist may have developed skills to provide dental care for children, it cannot be compared to the extensive training needed to register as a specialist paediatric dentist.
How Can My Child Benefit from Seeing a Paediatric Dentist?
Paediatric dentists undergo extensive training and have specialist expertise in:
- Carrying out a comprehensive dental exam and identifying any early problems or concerns
- Helping children with extensive dental damage or decay
- Treating children with anxiety or behavioural issues, including anxiety, ADHD, and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Monitoring very young children from birth, for oro-facial growth, development and oral conditions
- Providing nutritional advice
- Managing dental health for children with various medical and/or genetic conditions
- Treating a variety of dental injuries to primary and permanent teeth
- Identifying and managing dental conditions like abnormal formation of teeth (like enamel or dentine defects), hypomineralised or ’chalky’ teeth, extra teeth, missing teeth, tooth eruption problems
- Providing treatment using specialised training and techniques, dental sedation and providing treatment in a hospital setting under general anaesthesia.