4 Reasons Your Teen Should See a Pediatric Dentist 

Your teen is growing up rapidly. Since they’ve begun attending Homewood High School, you’ve made some adjustments to help them transition. To meet their medical needs, you’ve updated some of their routines and healthcare options. However, in some cases, advancing to the “adult level” of certain healthcare domains can mean missing out on care options catered to teenage development. This is especially true if you are wondering if your teen should begin seeing a more-mature-sounding “general dentist” instead of their pediatric dentist. Here are 4 key benefits your teen may lose out on if making the switch before their 18^thbirthday.  

1—Streamlined Orthodontic Treatment   

A crowded smile on a teenage face is far from uncommon. In many cases, permanent teeth may continue to develop faster than your teen’s jaw can accommodate them. Due to their specialized training, pediatric dentists can detect orthodontic problems early on, providing preventive treatment. This can ensure that your teen gets the treatment they need early before more serious problems develop. 

2—Assisted & Understood Growth  

Although their baby teeth may be long gone, teenagers still experience growth in their faces, mouths, and jaws. This natural development impacts oral health. While most general dentists can work around this, pediatric dentists have specialized training to help with this stage of growth. By monitoring expected changes in your child’s mouth, advising appropriate oral hygiene changes, and providing customized treatment, pediatric dentists can easily meet the dental health requirements of growing teenagers. 

3—Opportunity for Greater Independence   

Pediatric dentists can work with the same child from age two to eighteen. Whether your child is new to your pediatric dentist or a veteran patient, you can expect your dentist to understand the importance of teenage years. Pediatric dentists encourage teens to become proactive about their health, develop their oral hygiene routines, and seek dental help when required. Their educational approach can help your teen develop responsibility for their oral health. 

4—Manage Wisdom Teeth 

Toward the tail end of their teenage years, your child will likely experience wisdom teeth development. As emphasized in movies and humorous at-home videos, wisdom teeth typically require an extraction. Why? Wisdom teeth often overcrowd the jawbone, cause pain, and become vulnerable to bacteria and tooth decay. Your pediatric dentist can monitor your teen’s wisdom teeth and proactively address related problems. 

Pediatric dentists have what it takes to address your teen’s oral health needs with extreme efficiency. Even though your teen might think they are “too old” for a pediatric dentist, it’s often the best choice for their smile. 

About the Author

Dr. Angelica Rohner is an experienced pediatric dentist with an advanced degree in Pediatric Dentistry from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. With teenagers of her own, Dr. Rohner understands the importance of meeting children’s dental needs at every stage of development. If you have questions about how seeing a pediatric dentist can benefit your teenager’s oral health, reach out to her team at (205) 870-0892 or visit her website.