What is a Pediatric Dentist?

Pediatric dentists are dental specialists who are dedicated to the oral health of all children.  After completing four years of dental school, a pediatric dentist continues their education for two or three additional years of specialized training in caring for infants, children, adolescents and individuals with special needs.  During residency training, pediatric dentists are exposed to advanced training to manage children’s dental emergencies, treating children in a hospital setting in the operating room with general anesthesia, performing in-office oral sedation dentistry, and analyzing oral growth and development.  In addition, pediatric dentists are experienced with treating the dental needs of children with many different medical conditions.

Pediatric dentists limit their practices to caring for children from infancy through the teenage years.  The very young, pre-teens, and teenagers all need different approaches in dealing with their behavior, guiding their dental growth and development, and helping them avoid future dental problems.  Pediatric dentists focus on prevention as well as early detection and treatment of any dental disease that may arise in children.  We are trained in ways to help children have a pleasant dental experience so they will feel comfortable about visiting the dentist and can learn how to properly care for their teeth.

Dr. Dunston completed his pediatric dental training at the University of Maryland where he earned a Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry.  Dr. Dunston has attained Diplomate status and is a Board Certified Pediatric Dentist.  He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.