Pediatric dentists specialize in the treatment of children, from infancy through the teen years. They can capably treat children who have chronic illness and disabilities. Adults with special needs, such as Down's Syndrome, seizures, HIV or hearing and vision impairments, will also greatly benefit from treatment by a pediatric dentist.

Dental Care for Children
Pediatric dentists perform routine cleanings and examinations, including risk assessment for cavities pertaining to infants and mothers. They instruct children as to the proper way to brush and floss and the proper food to eat. Preventive fluoride treatments and sealants are also an integral part of children's dental care.

Other Services Pediatric Dentistry Offers:
• Mouth guards for protection during sports.
• The recommendation of preventive care for teething problems and periodontal disease.
• Counseling for habits such as thumb sucking.
• Treatment for the straightening of teeth and bite issues.
• The repair of cavities and other defects.
• The diagnosis of dental problems influenced by conditions such as diabetes, heart defects and asthma.
• The diagnosis and treatment of developmental problems.
• The management of periodontal disease and disorders, such as tongue-tie, where the membrane that connects the tongue to the mouth is too short and often interferes with activities such as breast-feeding.
• Management of injuries such as a tooth that has been knocked out.


The Differences between Pediatric Dentists and General Dentists:
• Children may be treated by a general dentist- the same individual who treats the other members of the family.... But a pediatric dentist specializes in the particular conditions that are pertinent to children and will be able to render treatment in ways that a general dentist may not.
• A pediatric dentist is required to obtain two to three years of training above and beyond the four-year training that is provided in dental school. This additional training focuses on child psychology and growth and development issues that pertain to young patients. A pediatric dentist will generally know better how to treat children in order to make them feel more comfortable.

Sedation Dentistry
Our pediatric dentist at Los Angeles dental office has the necessary qualifications to administer sedation to young patients. Some of these sedation methods include:
• Medication by Mouth: Oral medication in the proper dose will help the child to relax, but the child will remain awake during the procedure. This form of sedation is helpful when the child is experiencing anxiety or is very young.
• Local Anesthetics: An anesthetic may be applied topically to the area that is going to be worked on. This method will help to ease any discomfort for the child. There will be numbness that will last throughout the treatment and will gradually wear off thereafter.
• Laughing Gas or Nitrous Oxide: This form of sedation will help to reduce the anxiety level, especially for longer treatments. Nitrous oxide is also beneficial for subduing the gag reflex. The child will be awake during the procedure, and recovery will be quick.
• General Anesthesia: If a child is expected to have a substantially difficult time with a long procedure, general anesthesia is a good option. This form of sedation is performed by an anesthesiologist and will put the child to sleep so that he or she is not awake or aware during the duration of the dental procedure. General anesthesia generally works well for patients with disabilities of a mental and physical nature.

Parents may discuss the pros and cons of the different forms of sedation available with the pediatric dentist at our office.