One of my patients recently asked me about their children’s teeth. One of their kids – as kids will do – had fallen while running and chipped two of her permanent front teeth which had recently come in. My patient had attempted to take her child to her dentist, but the child had become so embarrassed by her teeth and frightened of the dentist’s tools that my patient had to take her screaming child home. “What can I do?” the patient asked me. The answer was simple, but one many parents don’t realize exist: take the child to a dentist for kids.

Yes, that’s right – there is probably at least one specialized dentist for kids in every city in America. Why? Well for one, kids are frightened of going to the dentist office and scary-looking dental technologies. A family friendly dentist has specialized tools that make less noise (you know, the “dentist noise”) than conventional dental technologies. Family dentistry is designed to make children feel comfortable and safe, yet offer the same dental care as any dentist office. Family dentists are becoming a more and more popular choice for kids’ routine dental care and even cosmetic dentistry.

Cosmetic dentistry for kids, you say? Yes, it’s true: more and more parents are taking their children in for cosmetic dentistry. Just consider the fact that according to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, 99.7% of Americans feel that a white, healthy smile is a necessary for success in today’s economy. It’s no wonder that in the last five years alone, teeth whitening procedures have increased by over 300 percent. Many of these are for children, who might have not yet developed proper dental hygiene.

A healthy smile is important for children’s self-confidence. A dentist for kids can help kids feel their best through small, uninvasive cosmetic dental techniques. There are many options for treating kids’ teeth that might be discolored, chipped, misshapen or missing. Other common cosmetic family dentistry procedures include bleaching, bonding, crowns, veneers and reshaping or contouring. These simple same-day procedures can change the way your child feels about herself and boost her self-confidence.

Need a dentist for kids? Check out the comments below for tips on how to find a local dentist in your area.