Teenage years are full of important choices. While your kids are not yet ready to be completely independent, there are certainly some aspects of their childhood that they are ready to leave behind. Hence, it is not surprising that many people wonder whether they should continue taking their teens to the pediatric dentist. If you’ve already been going to the Pediatric Dentist Carlsbad CA then you must be well aware of the benefits of taking your child for regular checkups.
Why Your Teen Should Continue going to the Pediatric Dentist
However, it is quite natural to wonder whether teenagers should continue going to the pediatric dentist. And the answer is absolute yes! Since teenagers are still undergoing developmental changes their jaw, mouth and face are still changing and hence, impact their oral health. Pediatric dentists are trained to address the unique needs of teenagers. If you think that your teen needs an orthodontic procedure then you must take them to the best orthodontist in Carlsbad. The following are some other reasons why your teen should see a pediatric dentist:
Teenagers are still growing
By the time kids are 13, they have lost most of their milk teeth and they’ve been replaced with permanent teeth. Additionally, their face and jaw are still changing and growing. Since pediatric dentists receive special training, they are well aware of the changes that teenagers undergo. They are adept at monitoring the changes that take place and provide assistance. In fact, many patients continue visiting the Pediatric Dentist Oceanside, Ca even after they’ve turned 18 even though their jaw has developed fully. The pediatric dentist can then make a recommendation for a dentist.
Orthodontic treatments may be needed
Most orthodontic treatments take place during the teenage years. Since the jaw grows along with the teens' continued growth, the permanent teeth are at times unable to keep up with the growth of the jaw. This can result in overcrowding or space maintenance issues. When permanent teeth are emerging, your pediatric dentist will monitor them. Teeth impaction, crowding, and bite are all evaluated by dentists.
Problems with the wisdom teeth
The third set of molars, also known as wisdom teeth, typically erupts in the late teens or early 20s. This can result in crowding, decay or a lot of pain. Moreover, since this area is at the very back, it can be quite a task to maintain cleanliness. This means that it becomes a ground for bacteria to thrive. This can cause cavities and gum diseases. Children Dentist in Carlsbad can prevent these issues from occurring as soon as the wisdom teeth start appearing.
Independence
As mentioned earlier, while it is not the right age to be completely independent, the teen years are the time when teenagers learn to look after themselves and have productive years ahead. These are also the years where they can learn the importance of making the right nutritional choices and how they can handle dental problems on their own.
Conclusion
Teens also suffer from other unique challenges such as the risk of sports, indulging in diets high in sugar, and the presence of other orthodontic appliances that they may need help with. Once teens turn 18, they can visit a general or an adult dentist. You can ask your pediatric dentist to recommend someone.
