Pediatricians are the doctors that have a passion for and expertise in treatment of common conditions in children. Likewise, pediatric dentists have a passion for caring for children and have expertise in the appropriate development and prevention and treatment of common dental conditions in children’s mouths. Parents choose us for their children’s dental care because pediatric experts have been specially trained for addressing the needs of babies and kids through adolescence.
Why should your child see a pediatric expert? It’s simple, really. Treatment and recommendations for baby and child’s teeth are not the same as for adults and permanent teeth. Also, how children process information and interact with the world is vastly different when compared with adults. In fact, the way in which young patients are interacted with in the dental environment is as much a determining factor in the outcome of treatment as the skill of the doctor.
Our dedicated field
Beyond 4 years of undergrad studies and 4 years of dental school, pediatric dentists and orthodontists undergo 2 to 3 more years of specialized training in their respective fields. These additional years focus on treatment methods and techniques specifically for maintaining and restoring dental health for patients in all stages of childhood with a variety of medical backgrounds and treatment needs.
Pediatric dentistry and orthodontics are among the 9 dentistry specialties with recognition from the American Dental Association.
When your child should go to the dentist
Pediatricians (The Academy of Pediatrics) agree with dentists (The American Academy of Pediatric Dentists) that your child see a pediatric dentist by age one.
A pediatric dentist can help start a good dental hygiene plan for your little one, establish a baseline for your child’s development, educate you on appropriate oral development and growth, and provide preventive measures when needed to avoid bigger concerns down the road. Inadequate pediatric dental care can have far-reaching consequences for a child’s oral and overall health.
Going to the orthodontist
Going to the orthodontist at age seven or even earlier for an orthodontic evaluation can save your child time and discomfort. Interceptive orthodontics, where your orthodontist lays the groundwork to solve problems early, makes later treatment shorter and more efficient. Interceptive orthodontics must be smartly designed with clearcut objectives and our board certified orthodontists love screening for developing problems and making them disappear after careful consultation with the family. We are firm believers in treating all patients like we would want our children treated and in education and prevention as a first principle of providing orthodontic care.
It is our solemn goal to provide pediatric dental and orthodontic care that results in a healthier child, a healthier smile and increased self-confidence.
About Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of Michigan, the offices of Drs. 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 Premier 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.
