91% of people have had a cavity at some point in life, especially during their childhood.

Are you looking for a family dentist or a pediatric dentist? Before you move forward with selecting one, it may be helpful to know what the difference is between the two.

You’ve come to the right place. Below we’re going to explain the differences for you, which will help you decide which is best for you and your family.

What’s The Difference?

The main difference between a general dentist and a pediatric dentist is the clients they see. A general dentist sees both adults and children, whereas a pediatric dentist specializes in seeing children only.

That’s not the only thing that differentiates the two; there are several things that you might not have thought about before.

Pediatric Dentist

As mentioned before, pediatric dentists specifically work with children. Several things occur in the mouths of children that don’t occur in adults. This is because children’s teeth are still growing and maturing.

As their teeth continue to grow, they need special treatment that only a pediatric dentist can provide. A pediatric dentist’s main focus is on preventive care.

They want to ensure that children and their parents are equipped with the necessary knowledge to prevent things like cavities before they occur. This is because cavities early on can cause issues with the future teeth that will take the place of a child’s baby teeth.

Another thing that sets a pediatric dentist apart from someone who practices general dentistry is the training they receive. After a pediatric dentist receives their degree, they must undergo further training. Specifically in the area of dealing with children.

General Dentist

A general dentist can treat both children and adults as they’ve obtained training in the basics of dentistry. The role of the general dentist is to ensure that the habits that were laid down when their patients were children have carried over into adulthood.

As a general dentist, the purpose is to help people improve their smiles where they see fit. As well as provide treatment for things like cavities and other issues that have resulted from poor oral hygiene.

General dentists are also known as family dentists because of their ability to treat anyone. General dentists complete a four-year degree that will include hands-on training. And they’ve passed their dental exams to obtain licensing.

Which to Use: Pediatric or Family Dentist?

There are several differences that you need to consider before deciding to choose a pediatric or family dentist. If you’re looking for a dentist for your child, a pediatric dentist is the way to go because they specialize in working with children.

But, if you’re looking for someone to help your entire family with their dental health, contact Dillon Family Dentistry. We know what it takes to help protect the smiles of everyone in your family.

Not only do we offer family dentistry, but we also have an array of other services, including teeth whitening and Invisalign treatment.