Why We’re the Right Dentists for Your Teen By Dr. Scott Parr on April 08, 2016

Time is a funny thing. When a person is 15, 30 seems old. In a person’s teenage years, the concept of having to pay consequences in the future for poor choices now may be hard to grasp because, after all, the future is a long, long way away. Leave cosmetic dentistry to the people in their thirties because I’m 15 and my smile is just fine, thank you.

Of course, by the time we reach adulthood, we know differently. 15 feels like it was yesterday, and the phrase “If I knew then what I know now…” comes to mind a lot. Fortunately for our teenaged children, they can know now what we didn’t know then. By taking them to a dentist who understands the special needs of teens while they are still impressionable and their opinions about dentistry are still being formed, parents can help to instill in them a good attitude toward oral health that will last a lifetime.

Dr. Scott Parr and Dr. Tara Frey provide exceptional dental care for teens at their Virginia Beach, VA dental practice. They know how to relate to teens honestly, openly, and respectfully, without making them feel condescended to or as though they are being treated like children. They would welcome the opportunity to demonstrate why they are the right dentists for your teen during a confidential consultation at their state-of-the-art office. Simply contact The Smile Center today, and we’ll take care of the rest.

What Are the Special Needs of Teen Patients?

As a parent, you consider your teenager your child, naturally. But your teen probably does not see things quite that way. Most teens recognize that they are not legally adults, but yearn for the independence that comes with adulthood. They are ready to start testing their boundaries and taking chances. Unfortunately, they are not always ready to accept the consequences.

While teenagers may not legally be adults, their bodies have undergone many of the changes that qualify them as adults on a physical level. Teens have all of their adult teeth, which means that they are out of do-overs. While they may understand this intellectually, it can be a hard concept for some teens to grasp emotionally. After all, they are just a few short years removed from visits from the tooth fairy. Now, they have to live with the fact that a tiny cavity in a tooth will impact their oral health for the rest of their lives.

On the other hand, establishing healthy habits now will also impact their oral health for the rest of their lives, but in the best way possible. We impart this fact to teens by providing them with straightforward, fact-based education about their teeth and gums. We don’t speak in euphemisms or try to make dentistry “cool.” We treat our teen patients as intelligent human beings who care about preserving their smiles.

It’s amazing what can be accomplished through open, honest communication.

In terms of dental treatments that we offer to teenagers, sealants are extremely popular as they help protect the teeth from the bacteria that cause cavities. For teenaged patients who already have cavities, we offer tooth-colored fillings as a safe, aesthetically pleasing alternative to traditional metal fillings.