I am a single mom with hardly any money. I’ve been taking my son to our family dentist thinking that would be more convenient. However, it is not working out that well. I don’t think they’re used to children. They get impatient with him with normal childlike behaviors. I’m wondering if I need to take him to a pediatric dentist but can’t afford it if they cost more than a general dentist. Do you have any insights on that?
Pamela
Dear Pamela,
It is wonderful that you are doing everything you can to create a positive experience for your son at the dentist. Most people who suffer with a lifelong dental anxiety can trace it back to childhood trauma at the dentist. It is obvious you are trying to change this for your sweet boy.
Cost of Pediatric Dentistry
Becoming a Pediatric Specialist requires two additional years of training. Because of that, many pediatric dentists do charge more. Before getting discouraged about that, I have some things which will give you something to hold on to.
First, every dentist sets their own fees. You can likely find a pediatric dentist who will have fees comparable to what you are currently paying. Second, if you have dental insurance, your fees should be very close to the same with either type of practitioner will be about the same for checkups and cleanings. Third, you don’t have to take your son to a specialist in order for him to have a great experience with his dental care.
There are general dentists who are great at working with children. One way to know how comfortable they are with children is to ask when they first like to first start seeing them. If they say around two-years-old (or younger), then you can feel confident they are comfortable with children. However, if they say five-years-old (or older), then you can know they are not truly comfortable with children.
Keeping a Child’s Dental Care Positive
Preventative care is both the safest and most affordable. Many parents, and you don’t seem to be one of those, don’t think young children need a dentist. Instead of taking them in for cleanings and checkups in their early years, they wait until there is an issue.
Unfortunately, that means their first experience with the dentist will be in regard to pain. Many times, it is a dental emergency. That will be their impression of the dentist instead of a fun experience where their teeth get cleaned in a pain-free way and there is a treat.
This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.