It seems to happen in the blink of an eye. Our children grow up so fast, probably too fast. But, inevitably, all of our precious babies will grow up to become teenagers and this can mean a lot of new changes. However, just because your child is a teen, doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t see their pediatric dentist anymore.
Pediatric Dentistry Specialization
An important part of a pediatric dentist’s training specializes in seeing teen patients. Even though all baby teeth are gone and have been replaced with their permanent teeth, their jaw and face is still growing and changing. They may also be getting the last of their permanent teeth, which can be especially vulnerable to decay. It’s also a plus for your teen’s dentist to know their history well, in order to give them the best and most individualized care. Pediatric dentists are also experts in screening for orthodontic problems and if your adolescent hasn’t experienced orthodontic treatment yet as they enter middle school and/or high school, our pediatric dentist will know the best time to send them to a specialist in orthodontics due to their unique training in detecting these problems.
Independence and Oral Health
This is also a time where teenagers become more independent and responsible for their own nutritional choices as well as their own hygiene. As the ADA points out, teens have unique challenges with their dental health such as a risk of sports injuries, diets high in carbohydrates and sugars, and possibly the presence of orthodontic appliances. As a result, they tend to have a higher rate of tooth decay than our younger patients.
As hard as it can be for us to say goodbye to patients we’ve known since they were learning to walk, we do recommend most children start seeing a general or adult dentist after the age of 18. At this time, they have usually stopped growing, experienced orthodontic treatment and had wisdom molars managed, and are more responsible for taking care of their own oral health. The teen years are a good time for the pediatric dentist to help them develop the ability to make healthy choices, understand how to handle their dental needs more independently, and prepare them for the future when mom and dad are no longer making decisions for them.
If you or your teen would like to discuss this topic in more detail, please don’t hesitate to ask us.
About Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of Michigan, the offices of Drs. Delaney, Plunkett, Ralstrom, Makowski, Thanasas, Ker, and Associates
Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of Michigan have specialized in pediatric dentistry and orthodontics since 1968. Our family-friendly and newly renovated office gives patients and families a more comfortable and consistent experience with dentistry from the very beginning. Our pediatric dentists treat children from newborn to 18 years of age while our orthodontists provide care for both children and adults and are proud to be Preferred Providers of Invisalign and Invisalign Teen services. The ability to treat all patients with compassion and individuality, including those that may have special needs reaches beyond our facility, which has treatment rooms available for children who require additional privacy and customized care options. We pioneered valued hospital affiliations to allow dental services to be performed at DMC Children’s Hospital and St. John Macomb Hospital, when appropriate or necessary, and our specialists are also proud to be on staff at Henry Ford and Beaumont hospitals.
