Finding a dentist for your child does not have to be an ordeal. You have probably wondered “how can I find a kids dentist near me”. A pediatric dentist that is kid-friendly? A dentist that is experienced and will treat your child with the utmost care?

Experts recommend that your child starts to see a pediatric dentist by the age of one. It’s vital that our children start receiving preventative dental care from a young age.

Finding the Best Kids Dentist Near Me: 5 Top Qualities to Look For

We have gathered the top tips for finding the best kid’s dentist near you to ease the burden of looking for a top-quality dentist.

1. Specialize in Pediatric Dentistry

It’s important to look for a dentist that has years of experience working with children or a dentist that specializes in pediatric care. These dentists have 2-3 extra years of training that focuses on pediatric conditions such as tongue ties and enamel hypoplasia, as well as education on proper anesthesia care for children. 

2. Kid-Friendly Atmosphere

A dentist’s office that caters to children usually has an upbeat atmosphere to make the child feel comfortable, as well as make it seem like a fun place. A friendly staff should interact with your child as soon as possible. 

Does your child do better in a brightly painted and stimulating atmosphere or a neutrally decorated and calming atmosphere? You can look at photos online before making an appointment.  

3. Reviews

Hearing from current and former patients is perhaps one of the most highly sought after aspects in your search for the “best kids dentist near me”.

Searching on Yelp, the dentist’s Facebook business page, Google reviews, and the testimonials on the dentist’s website are all good places to look for reviews.

Reviews with comments that include the words or phrases “friendly” or “made my child feel comfortable” ensure that you are on the right track.

4. Education

During the appointment, does the staff let your child know what they are about to do before they do it and how it might feel in their mouth? Do they let the child see the tools before putting them in their mouth?

Those are some things that you may want to evaluate as you observe your child’s first appointment. If the dentist’s staff does the majority of the following then that is a good sign that they are experienced with children.

5. Child’s Comfort Level

After the initial appointment, it is important to ask your child in an age-appropriate way how they felt while they were in the dentist’s office. If they report that they were uncomfortable, it could be just that having someone poke around in their mouth makes them feel uneasy.

If they are too young to tell you how they felt during the appointment then your parental observational skills are perhaps even more crucial. Finding a gentle and caring dentist goes a long way in helping to improve your child’s dental care experience.

Finding the Right Dentist for Your Child

In your search for a “kids dentist near me”, it’s important to have several criteria in mind that will help you in your quest. It is vital for your child’s health and well-being that their experience with a pediatric dentist is a positive one so that they will make seeing a dentist on a regular basis a life-long habit. 

Our office serves pediatric patients and provides top-notch service on a daily basis. Please contact us to see how we can serve you. Dillon Family Dentistry is committed to making sure your child’s experience is as positive as possible!