Quick answer: Every dentist, general or pediatric, finishes dental school and is licensed to treat children. A pediatric dentist then completes at least two more years of specialty training focused entirely on kids: how children grow, how to help anxious or very young children through care, how to treat children with medical conditions or special health care needs, and how to manage cavities in baby teeth. Pediatric dentistry is one of the 12 dental specialties recognized by the American Dental Association. A general dentist can work well for some school-age kids with healthy teeth. For babies and toddlers, anxious children, kids who get cavities, and children with special health care needs, a pediatric dentist’s added training usually makes them the better choice.

“Our family dentist said he’s happy to see our 3-year-old. Do we really need a pediatric dentist?” It’s a fair question, and the honest answer is that it depends on your child. Both are real dentists, and plenty of general dentists take great care of kids. The difference is the extra training, and for a lot of kids, especially young ones, that training shows up in how the visit goes. Here’s how the two compare, so you can decide what fits your family.

Pediatric and General Dentists Both Finish Dental School

Every dentist in the U.S. earns a DDS or DMD degree (they’re equivalent) and passes licensing exams before treating patients. Dental school covers patients of all ages, and a licensed general dentist can legally treat your child. Many do it every day, often alongside the rest of the family.

A general dentist’s practice spans everyone from kids to grandparents, so children are one part of a much wider range. That breadth is a real advantage for some families: one office, one appointment block, one set of records. The trade-off is that kids are a smaller part of the day, so a general office usually sees fewer toddlers, nervous kids, and tricky baby-tooth problems than a pediatric office does.

Pediatric Dentists Train for at Least Two More Years After Dental School

To become a pediatric dentist, a dentist completes a residency of at least 24 months in a program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD). Those years are spent treating only children, under the supervision of specialists.

The AAPD describes that training as covering:

• Behavior guidance, meaning how to help young, nervous, or upset children get through care calmly
• Child growth and development, including how the jaws and bite change over time
• Caring for children with medical conditions and disabilities
• Preventing and treating cavities in baby teeth
• Sedation and hospital dentistry for children who need more than a standard visit

Pediatric dentistry is one of the 12 dental specialties recognized by the ADA’s National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards. A general dentist may have taken extra courses in children’s dentistry, but “pediatric dentist” refers to someone who completed that specialty residency.

Pediatric Dentists Treat Infants Through Teens, Including Kids With Special Health Care Needs

The ADA’s official definition calls pediatric dentistry “an age-defined specialty” that provides preventive and treatment care “for infants and children through adolescence, including those with special health care needs.” In other words, a pediatric dentist’s whole patient list is kids. That focus means they’ve seen the same childhood problems many times over: early cavities, thumb-sucking habits, knocked-out front teeth, teeth coming in out of order. Pediatric offices are usually set up with kids in mind too, from the way the team explains things to the size of the equipment.

It also means they’re used to children who can’t sit still, can’t describe what hurts, or need a different approach because of autism, sensory sensitivities, or a medical condition. For many families, that experience is the main reason to choose a specialist.

What It Means When a Pediatric Dentist Is Board Certified

Board certification is a step beyond residency, and it’s voluntary. To become a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry (ABPD), a pediatric dentist who has finished an accredited residency must pass a written qualifying exam and then an oral clinical exam, where they talk through real treatment scenarios with examiners. And it doesn’t end there: certification has to be maintained over time.

Dr. Christopher Pae, who reviewed this post, completed a pediatric dental residency and is a board-certified Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. If credentials matter to you, it’s completely reasonable to ask any dentist directly whether they’re residency-trained or board certified.

When a Pediatric Dentist Is the Better Choice

A pediatric dentist is usually the better choice when:

• Your child is a baby or toddler. The AAPD recommends a first visit by the first birthday, and our post on what age your child should first see a dentist explains why.
• Your child is anxious, has had a hard dental visit before, or won’t let anyone look in their mouth
• Your child gets cavities often. Our post on why some kids are more prone to cavities covers the reasons.
• Your child has special health care needs, a medical condition, or sensory sensitivities
• Your child needs extensive treatment, or care that may involve sedation
• Your family dentist has suggested seeing a specialist

If you’re not sure whether something your child is dealing with needs attention soon, our list of signs your child needs to see a pediatric dentist is a good place to start.

Questions to Ask When Choosing a Dentist for Your Child

If you’re comparing dentists for your child in the Garden City or New Hyde Park area, these questions tell you a lot:

• Are you a pediatric dentist, and are you board certified?
• How do you help children who are nervous or upset?
• Can I stay with my child during the visit?
• What happens if my child has a dental emergency after hours?
• Up to what age do you see patients?

Pay attention to how specific the answers are. An office that sees young children all day usually answers these quickly and in detail.

When Kids Switch From a Pediatric Dentist to a General Dentist

There’s no single required age. Many kids move to a general dentist sometime in their teens, once their permanent teeth are in and they’re comfortable at the dentist. Kids with special health care needs sometimes stay with a pediatric dentist longer, and that’s fine. Staying with a pediatric dentist through the early teen years also means the same team is watching as the permanent teeth come in and the bite settles. The best transition is a planned one, with records passed along, rather than a gap in checkups during the busy high school years.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a pediatric dentist better than a general dentist?

It depends on the child, but for many kids, yes. A pediatric dentist has at least two extra years of training focused only on children. That matters most for babies and toddlers, anxious kids, children with frequent cavities, and children with special health care needs.

Can a general dentist see my child?

Yes. General dentists are licensed to treat patients of all ages, and many see children regularly. For a cooperative older child with healthy teeth, a general dentist can be a good fit. For babies, toddlers, anxious kids, or children who get cavities often, a pediatric dentist is usually the better choice.

How much more training does a pediatric dentist have?

After four years of dental school, a pediatric dentist completes a specialty residency of at least 24 months, according to the AAPD. That training covers child development, behavior guidance, special health care needs, and sedation.

What does board-certified pediatric dentist mean?

It means the dentist completed a pediatric residency and then passed the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry’s written and oral exams. Board certification is voluntary, so not every pediatric dentist has it.

Do pediatric dentists treat children with special needs?

Yes. The ADA’s definition of pediatric dentistry specifically includes children with special health care needs, and caring for children with medical conditions and disabilities is part of pediatric residency training.

At what age should my child stop seeing a pediatric dentist?

There’s no set age. Many kids move to a general dentist sometime in their teens. Ask your pediatric dentist when they usually recommend making the switch.

Looking for a pediatric dentist for your child? Contact Paper Planes Pediatric Dentistry in Garden City, NY to schedule a visit: call 516-894-0718 or book online here . We welcome families from Garden City, New Hyde Park, and across Long Island.