The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a first visit by age one, or within six months of the first tooth appearing. Early visits are short and gentle, and are mostly about building comfort rather than treatment. See what happens at a first dental visit.
It refers to the American Association of Orthodontists recommendation that every child have a first orthodontic evaluation by age seven. By then the first permanent molars and front teeth have usually come through, which lets us assess the developing bite. Most children need nothing at that stage beyond monitoring — see Phase I and Phase II orthodontics.
For most young children treatment is completed with local anesthetic alone, often alongside nitrous oxide. General anesthesia is reserved for extensive treatment or children who genuinely cannot be treated another way, and is carried out in an appropriate clinical setting with monitoring. We discuss the reasoning, alternatives and risks with you before anything is arranged. See sedation and comfort options.
Most pediatric practices see patients through the late teens, commonly to age eighteen and sometimes beyond if orthodontic treatment is still finishing. There is no fixed cut-off. A sensible point to move on is once all permanent teeth are present, orthodontics is complete, and your teenager manages appointments independently.
It depends how far the decay has progressed. Early decay can sometimes be arrested with silver diamine fluoride, which needs no drilling. A moderate cavity is usually restored with a tooth-coloured filling. Where decay is extensive a crown covers the whole tooth. The area is fully numbed first.
A pediatric dentist completes two to three years of additional residency after dental school, focused entirely on children — covering behaviour management, growth and development, treating children with special healthcare needs, and pediatric sedation. A general or family dentist treats all ages with a general dental degree.
Usually not. Pediatric practices bill the same procedure codes as general dentists and typically accept the same insurance. We accept Medi-Cal (Denti-Cal) and most major PPO plans — see our insurance page.
