Pediatric dentistry is the specialty of dentistry that focuses on treating patients from birth to adulthood.

A pediatric dentist is a specialist dentist whose mission is to manage the dental treatment of the youngest members of the family. Unlike other areas that focus on the management of specific pathologies, such as orthodontics or periodontics, pediatric dentistry specializes in providing comprehensive treatment to very special patients, with whom an emotional bond is created from the earliest stages of their lives.

Who does a pediatric dentist treat?

The main focus of treatment provided by a pediatric dentist is preventative care, with the goal of helping children develop, from an early age, healthy lifestyle habits such as oral health self-care, a balanced diet, and a positive attitude toward treatment and professional checkups.

Pediatric dentists, therefore, care for babies from birth, and treat and monitor their health throughout infancy, childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood. Furthermore, it is important to emphasize that the family actively participates in this process. Their work begins with counseling the mother during pregnancy, preparing her for her baby’s oral health, and subsequently, also involves the rest of the family in developing a healthy upbringing.

Another very important group of patients that pediatric dentists also care for are children and adults with disabilities, particularly those with Down syndrome or Trisomy 21.