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Recently, there had been concerns regarding general dentists posing as specialists. And since we're in the pediatric dentists thread, ideally specialists dapat yung nirerefer sa mga members looking for pediatric dentists.
However, there are only a handful of
pediatric dentists here in the country--and I mean those who are specialists talaga with post-grad studies in Pediatric Dentistry. Examples of those mentioned in this thread would be Dr. Eric Hernandez & Dr. Georgina Roa-Remulla.
Since they are specialists, it's but natural to expect that they charge much higher than general dentists. If the budget cannot afford their rates, pwede pumunta sa mga
general dentists with pediatric dentistry training.
These are dentists who had training in pediatric dentistry but did not get a post-graduate degree, unlike pediatric dentists. Usually, they underwent externships in PCMC near Agham Rd and PDCP/ PDSI in Banawe. These 2 are the only institutions recognized to give pediatric dentistry training. These institutions also accept patients, price is cheaper than taking your kids to a pediatric dentist but the facilities aren't that great and it requires more/longer appointments than in a private dental setting.
Examples of general dentists with pediatric dentistry training mentioned in this thread would be Dr. Tanya Macapagal from Abesamis Dental in Alabang, Dr. Nina Tayag in Pasig & Dr. Annaleah Adorable-Yazon in QC/Marikina.
Even with pediatric dentist training, these general dentists are not allowed to call themselves specialists and they are not supposed to place "Pediatric Dentist" in their signage kasi hindi naman sila specialists. But
no doubt they are trained to handle kids and are more apt to do so than general dentists without training.
Now there are also
general dentists---these are dentists who don't hold any training in pediatric dentistry. Unfortunately, there are a lot of these dentists who brand themselves as pediatric dentists just because they like kids or were able to treat kids effectively. When I say "effectively," I mean they were able to do treatment in kids without the kids crying or being traumatized.
I have nothing against these dentists but it is a bit misleading if you they advertise that they are pediatric dentists but clearly they are not. But for those who are on a budget, it is OK to bring your kids here for consult and cleaning/ fluoride treatment lang. If your kids are of generally good oral hygiene, then OK to bring your kids to a general dentist.
For parents with children who have rampant tooth decay, I suggest you bring your child to a general dentist with pediatric dentistry training or to the specialists if you can afford them.
They're most likely give you the appropriate treatment plan for your child like baby root canal (pulpotomy) and stainless steel crowns, etc. For moderate cavities in kids kasi, usually an ordinary filling or pasta won't do because the behavior of tooth decay in kids' teeth are different from an adult's. Mas mabilis mag-spread ang decay sa kids so yung akala ng iba na pam-pasta lang, dapat na palang i-root canal/ pulpo.
So when scouting for your child's dentist, consider your child's dental needs and then assess kung pwede ba siya sa general dentist lang or dun sa trained talaga to do pediatric dental treatment. You can look for certificates posted in the dentist's office---usually nakadisplay naman yan.
Unfortunately, I know some dentists who don't have training but they project na they have. They even instruct their secretary na if someone asked for their training, sabihin na lang na sa abroad trained.
As a parent myself, I'd rather go to someone who really has proof na trained siya.
Being effective in handling kids in a dental chair is different from being able to do handle kids and do the appropriate treatment for temporary teeth.
In another forum, the parents who recommend specify if specialists ba or general dentists ang nirerecommend nila. Sana dito rin para hindi magkalituhan
