When it comes to your child’s health, few things are more important than finding doctors you can trust, and who have a good relationship with your child. After all, children are not always able to communicate what is bothering them, or articulate answers to what can be complicated medical questions.
Primary care doctors, dentists, and eye doctors, with specialized training in treating infants and kids can make a significant difference in the quality of health care that your child receives. Below, we’ve outlined 3 pediatric doctors that every child should see.
Primary Care Pediatrician
A pediatrician, contrary to what many believe, is not just a primary care doctor for infants or young children. Rather, a pediatric primary care doctor specializes in treating patients from 0-21 years of age. When you’re looking for a children’s doctor, you should feel free to ask around for recommendations, read reviews, and ask questions (though you may need to speak to the office assistants – doctors can be pretty busy!).
A pediatric primary care doctor specializes in issues related to children, from providing vaccinations to evaluating your child’s fitness to participate in extracurricular activities at school. Pediatricians are also able to provide counseling services to better communicate some of the issues that your children will experience as they develop into adulthood.
Pediatric Dentist
A pediatric dentist is different than a general dentist in that, like a primary pediatric doctor, a pediatric dentist has specialized training to recognize and treat the mouths of pre-adolescent and adolescent patients. The AAPD recommends that you take your child see a pediatric dentist by age 1, or within 6 months of the first tooth erupting.
When we are babies, toddlers, pre-teens, and adolescents, our mouths – including teeth and gums – are still forming. During this critical time, baby teeth come in, fall out, and are replaced by our permanent teeth; healthy oral hygiene habits are developed, and potential long-term problems or even diseases can be detected and treated. A pediatric dentist knows what to look for in a healthy developing mouth, and can more easily identify and treat potential issues along the way.
Pediatric Optometrist
A pediatric optometrist typically undergoes at least one year of additional training in treating children specifically. You should take your baby to see a pediatric optometrist within the first year, ideally around 6 months.
The optometrist will make sure that your child’s eyes focus, are straight, and are free of any internal eye diseases. If you have a hereditary history of any eye disease, you should be sure to note this with your children’s eye doctor. As with issues related to their mouth, gums, and teeth, there are ocular issues that can be addressed and overcome if they are caught during this crucial early stage of your child’s life.
Put Your Child on a Healthy Path
Choosing specialized pediatric doctors can help pave the way for a healthy future for your child. From their oral and ocular care to their overall health, children’s doctors have the training required to recognize specific symptoms or underlying issues that are unique to babies, toddlers, and adolescents.
At Children’s Dentistry of Las Vegas, our team of pediatric dentists are trained to work specifically with children, so you know that your family is always in good hands. To learn more about how we treat pediatric patients, to ask any questions, or to schedule an appointment, reach out to us today.