Experienced Pediatric Dentists in Las Vegas

While general dentists have experience in a wide range of dental issues, they do not specialize in children’s dentistry. Pediatric dentistry focuses on dental services for children and adolescents, including those with special needs, from the time their first tooth appears to young adulthood.

Pediatric dental professionals are essential because children have unique dental needs that a general dentist may not have as much experience with, including:

• Pediatric gum disease and tooth decay
• Dental emergencies due to roughhousing, sports, or falls
• Dental misalignments caused by pacifier use or thumb-sucking
• Pulpectomy (baby root canals)

Along with these services, a pediatric dentist understands children’s anxiety or fear about the dentist and knows techniques that will help build positive dental experiences. They have experience working with children with special health care needs and provide the support you may not find with a general family dentist.

According to the American Dental Association (ADA)¹, parents should schedule an appointment after their child’s first tooth appears—but no later than one year old. It’s vital to be proactive about your child’s oral health, and starting early is significant in their development and how they will feel about the dentist as they grow.

Although this may seem young, an experienced pediatric dentist will know how your child feels at this age and work with your little one to build strong dental habits.

Before your child’s first dental visit, parents should try to prepare their kids as much as possible. This may include:

• Showing your child books or videos about the dentist
• Being calm and positive about the appointment yourself
• Bringing something that will comfort them, such as a blanket or stuffed toy
• Offering a reward after the appointment to build positive reinforcement

During this initial appointment at our Las Vegas, NV dental office, the pediatric dentist will inspect your child’s mouth and gently remove plaque and bacteria from the teeth. Children generally won’t need dental x-rays until they are a little older (and can sit still) or if your dentist needs to diagnose a problem.

Read More: What Parents Can Expect at Their Child’s Dental Appointment

We get a lot of questions from parents on how to help their kids build healthy habits and avoid dental problems during childhood. To help, here are some tips from our children’s dentistry team:

1. Be as consistent as possible with enforcing daily brushing and flossing
2. Help younger children with brushing their teeth, and monitor older children
3. Avoid giving your child food or drinks with excessive sugar or acidic ingredients
4. Use fluoride-free or low-fluoride toothpaste for babies and toddlers
5. Let your child hold the toothbrush and take an active part in their dental routines
6. Brush your teeth together as a family to show your kids the correct way to do it
7. Make sure your child sees their pediatric dentist every 6 months
8. Be positive about visiting the dentist and consider a reward system for your child
9. Find an experienced pediatric dentist with a child-friendly office (offers TV or video games, for example)

Also, if you suspect something might be wrong with your child’s dental health, you should schedule an appointment with your pediatric dentist right away. It’s always better to be safe and catch issues as early as possible.

Yes, and yes! If you’re in need of dental care, any of our dentists will be happy to see you the same day if there is availability. Just give us a call to see which location can get you in at a time that’s most convenient for you. Likewise, you can also visit any of our Absolute Dental locations during business hours and our team will get you in as soon as possible. Our goal is to make excellent dental care accessible for everyone, so we’ll always accommodate same-day appointments and walk-ins when possible.