A pediatric dentist (paediatric dentist) is a dentist with additional training in children’s oral health, from babies to teenagers. Children’s teeth, behaviour and needs differ from adults’, so a children’s dentist adapts prevention, treatment and communication to each age. The first visit is recommended when the first tooth appears or by the first birthday, then regularly as advised.
What is a pediatric dentist?
Every dentist treats children, but a pediatric dentist has completed further training focused on children’s dental care. That training covers how teeth and jaws develop, the treatment of baby teeth, prevention of decay, managing children’s anxiety, and caring for children with medical conditions or special needs.
The approach is different too. Explanations are adapted to the child’s age, appointments are planned to be short and positive, and parents are involved at every step.
When should your child first see a dentist?
International paediatric dental organisations recommend a first visit when the first tooth appears, or at the latest by the first birthday. This early visit is mostly about prevention and advice: how to clean the teeth, night-time feeding, fluoride, teething and habits such as thumb sucking.
After that, check-ups are usually every six months, or more often if the child has a higher risk of decay. Our article on your child’s first dental visit explains what happens at that appointment.
What does a children’s dentist treat?
- Check-ups and prevention: examination, cleaning, advice on diet and brushing, fluoride varnish
- Fissure sealants on the back teeth to protect the grooves from decay
- Fillings in baby teeth and young permanent teeth
- Pulp treatment of baby teeth (the children’s equivalent of root canal treatment) and small crowns for badly decayed baby molars
- Extractions when a tooth cannot be saved, and space maintainers when a baby molar is lost early
- Dental injuries: knocked-out, broken or pushed-in teeth
- Monitoring how the teeth and jaws develop
- Mouth ulcers and other changes in the mouth’s soft tissues
Why baby teeth matter
Baby teeth are sometimes considered unimportant because they fall out. In reality, they help children chew, speak and smile with confidence, and they hold space for the permanent teeth. Untreated decay in baby teeth can cause pain, infection, missed school days and problems for the permanent teeth developing underneath. Our guide on whether cavities in baby teeth should be treated explains why.
Helping an anxious child
Fear of the dentist is common and usually learned. A pediatric dentist uses simple techniques that work for most children:
- Tell-show-do: explaining an instrument in child-friendly words, showing it, then using it
- Short, predictable appointments, ideally in the morning when children are less tired
- Praise for effort, not only for results
- Letting the child raise a hand to pause
- Parents staying calm and avoiding words like “pain” or “injection”
Our article on when your child is afraid of the dentist gives practical tips for parents before and after the visit.
Preventing decay at home
- Brush twice a day from the first tooth, with a smear of fluoride toothpaste under 3 years and a pea-sized amount from 3 to 6 years.
- Help or supervise brushing until about 7 or 8 years old.
- Avoid sweet drinks in bottles and sleeping with a bottle of milk or juice.
- Keep sweets to mealtimes and offer water between meals.
- Book regular check-ups so problems are caught early.
More detail is available in our guide to preventing tooth decay in children.
What does children’s dental care cost?
Prevention is the least expensive part of dental care: check-ups, cleaning, fluoride and sealants cost far less than treating advanced decay, infections or extractions. The cost of a treatment depends on the child’s needs, the number of teeth involved and the type of treatment, and is explained to parents after the examination, before anything is done.
Children’s dentistry at Ajam Dental Clinic, Tripoli
At Ajam Dental Clinic, Fouad Chehab Boulevard, Al-Makateb Building, 1st floor, Tripoli, children’s dental care is provided by Dr. Soumaya Ajam. She holds a university diploma (DU) in Paediatric Dentistry and a DU in Oral Pathology from Université Saint-Joseph de Beyrouth, and her specialty is children’s dentistry, covering all treatments for children. Visits are explained to parents and children step by step, at the child’s pace. Learn more about our children’s dentistry and contact us by WhatsApp or phone to book your child’s visit.
Related reading: Dentist in Tripoli: one clinic for patients from every neighbourhood
Your appointment at Ajam Dental Clinic
Children’s dental care at the clinic is provided by Dr. Soumaya Ajam, our paediatric dentist. For babies, children and teenagers, contact her directly.
Consultations are by appointment, Monday to Saturday from 08:00 to 17:00, at Al-Makateb Building, 1st floor, Fouad Chehab Boulevard, Tripoli. At the first visit the dentist examines you, takes the X-rays that are needed and explains the options, the number of visits and the fees before any treatment starts.
All our guides on children’s teeth
- Teething in babies: what helps and what does not
- Your child’s first dental visit: at what age, and what happens?
- Preventing tooth decay in children: a practical guide for parents
- Should cavities in baby teeth be treated?
- Fluoride and fissure sealants for children
- My child is afraid of the dentist: how to help
- A child’s tooth knocked out or broken: what to do in the first 30 minutes
- Baby’s first tooth: when it appears, in what order, and how to care for it
Frequently asked questions
At what age should a child see a pediatric dentist?
The first visit is recommended when the first tooth appears, or by the first birthday at the latest. Early visits focus on prevention and advice for parents. After that, check-ups are generally every six months, or more often if the dentist sees a higher risk of decay.
What is the difference between a pediatric dentist and a general dentist?
Both can treat children. A pediatric dentist has additional training focused on children: the development of teeth and jaws, treatment of baby teeth, prevention, behaviour management and care for children with medical or special needs. This is especially helpful for very young, anxious or medically complex children.
Should I tell my child about the dental visit in advance?
Yes, briefly and positively, without details that could cause worry. Say the dentist will count and check their teeth and show them how to keep them strong. Avoid words like "pain", "needle" or "it won't hurt", which introduce fear. Reading a children's book about the dentist can help.
Can a pediatric dentist treat a child who is very afraid?
Most anxious children can be treated with patience, clear explanations, short visits and step-by-step familiarisation. When a child needs extensive treatment and cannot cooperate, other options such as sedation or general anaesthesia may be discussed; these are planned carefully and only when truly needed.
Do baby teeth with cavities really need fillings?
Usually yes. Baby teeth stay in the mouth until around 6 to 12 years depending on the tooth. Untreated decay can cause pain and infection, affect eating and sleeping, and harm the permanent tooth developing underneath. Small cavities are simple to treat; waiting often means more complex treatment later.
Can my child's teeth be checked during a parent's appointment?
Families often ask this. Contact the clinic in advance so enough time can be planned for each person. A child's first visits are best kept relaxed and unhurried, which is easier when the appointment is planned for them.
Have a question about your teeth?
Send a WhatsApp message to Dr. Abdel Rahman Ajam or Dr. Soumaya Ajam, or call the clinic to book a consultation.
This article provides general information for patients. It does not replace an examination by a dentist, who can advise you on your own situation.
