A pediatric dentist is responsible for caring for the dental needs and concerns of children and infants. Pediatric dentists maintain patients' oral health, monitor their conditions, and schedule regular dental checkups. They also inspect and diagnose early dental problems and perform dental operations according to patients' problem areas. A pediatric dentist must have excellent knowledge of dental practices and processes, as well as excellent communication skills to advise parents and guardians of children on dental health techniques.
The primary responsibility of pediatric dentists is to perform oral examinations and provide corrective care for children. It can include everything from examinations to repairing cavities and diagnosing oral injuries or conditions to developing treatment plans. Most states within the United States require pediatric dentists to earn credits by continuing their education to maintain professional license. Dentists' primary responsibilities are to diagnose oral diseases and treat them with the help of different equipment and technologies.
The pediatric dentist also teaches children about cavities and the repairs they may need to perform if they don't care for their teeth properly. Based on the resumes of pediatric dentists and periodontists, some of the skills needed to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. While it's true that most pediatric dentists have a college degree, it's generally possible to become one with just a high school degree. Endodontists are specialized dentists who treat root canal injuries while performing various endodontic-related implant surgeries.
We estimate that 36% of pediatric dentists are competent in patient care, pediatrics and new patients. Pediatric dentists must attend an additional training program after completing a dental degree that may consist of additional courses and residency programs that provide specialized training for working with pediatric-age patients. Once you've achieved the level of education you're comfortable with, you can start asking companies to convert you to a pediatric dentist. Although pediatric dentists and endodontists have great differences in their careers, some of the skills needed to perform both jobs are similar.
The interpersonal skills of a pediatric dentist make it possible for the professional to explain complex medical topics to young patients, even when they listen to their concerns and work with teams designed specifically for the pediatric dental clinic. Pediatric dentists are trained to perform all oral care throughout a patient's childhood, so they control the placement of incoming teeth, remove and fill cavities, and seal adult teeth to prevent future tooth decay. As such, pediatric dentists are trained to make young patients feel comfortable visiting the dentist and having their teeth cleaned, examined and repaired. As an example of this, a pediatric dentist is likely to be an expert in the chair side, office, specialist practice, and appointment scheduling, while a typical dentist is an expert in dentistry, dds, private practice, and orthodontics.
These are examples of actual pediatric dentist resume responsibilities that represent the typical tasks they are likely to perform in their duties.