Pediatric dentistry isn’t as profitable as cosmetic dentistry, but it’s rarely about the money.

Pediatric dentistry is a good thing to do for your community, but only if you like doing it.

“If you treat children like gold, you’ll see their mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, and grandparents as well!” said a Virginia dentist.

Pediatric dental patients can provide a whole new set of family patients. But not all doctors are cut out to be a children’s dentist.

“I break out in hives when I treat anyone under 18!” said an Indiana dentist.

Click on play to watch the survey video and hear the full survey results -

“Kids are a different breed from adults when it comes to sedation, and you REALLY have to have thorough training to sedate them,” said one dentist.

Among survey respondents, 54% say it's a great treatment modality that requires proper training; 11% are still am not certain of its safety; and 35% think general dentists should not be performing pediatric sedation.

Here's a sample of what dentists had to say about pediatric dental sedation:

• “It is a great way to treat children. However, weekend courses do not give one adequate training to sedate children; one needs to be formally trained.” (Arizona pediatric dentist)
• “Proper training and the use of modern equipment are the key.” (California dentist)
• “This is the most delicate group of all patients, and the one that GP’s should be very cautious when treated. This also is the group that has the most incidents when sedation is performed.”(Florida dentist)
• “It should be done more often.” (Orthodontist)
• “Just ask an anesthesiologist. They all say NO!!! No one should!!!” (Massachusetts pediatric dentist)
• “I am a pediatric dentist. I used to offer it in my practice. I have stopped since 2004. I recommend that it is used ONLY in a hospital setting.” (Massachusetts pediatric dentist)
• “There are a small number of general dentists who will obtain the necessary training to SAFELY provide sedation services for children, but I can't for the life of me understand why they would want to.” (California oral surgeon)
• “There is no excuse for inadequate training. You must be on top of your game and realize it is not successful all the time. Still will need a source where pedodontics can be done under a general anesthetic.” (Oklahoma dentist)
• “Pediatric sedation should be performed only in a hospital setting and only for special-needs children. The rest of children do great if you will only be patient with them and do 'show and tell.' The most difficult children always, and I mean always, do great and overcome their fear if you give them time and love and show them how trust works.” (California children’s dentist)

Read more: Pediatric Sedation Dentistry Causes Disagreement Among Dentists

Listen to what Dr. Michael Silverman has to say about DOCS Education’s evolving stance on the subject: Dental Continuing Education for Pediatric Sedation

That's according to a new study that was published in the Journal of Dental Research. Researchers at the University of California in San Francisco looked at the oral health of 179 mothers and 389 children.

This highlights the role of parental dental health in pediatric dentistry. In addition, parents may be more likely to treat tooth decay and gum disease if they realize it may negatively impact their children's dental health.

Read more: Mums who neglect teeth impact on kids’ oral health

“We treat kids, but most of our dental marketing is geared toward adults 35-65," said one dentist. "We don't turn kids away, but we don't encourage them either."

"Family dentistry is more fun!" declared a pediatric dentist. "Dentistry for children leads to orthodontics which leads to wisdom teeth which leads into restorative and cosmetic dentistry."

Read more about pediatric dentists: Does your dental practice encourage pediatric patients?

And the consequences of avoiding the children's dentist can go far beyond cavities and tooth decay… Just ask the Washington state mother who was convicted in court for not having taken her son to the dentist.

The developmentally disabled 10-year-old boy had more than one abscessed tooth; in court papers, one doctor compared the boy's tooth pain to "being shot with a nail gun."

The boy had several teeth removed. His mother claimed that she had no idea a tooth abscess could be life-threatening, and that she did not have the money to take him to a pediatric dentist.

After a jury trial, she was convicted of second-degree criminal mistreatment.

Read more about this pediatric dentistry case: Mom convicted over lack of dental care for son

Forba Holdings LLC owns 68 "Small Smiles" dental clinics where pediatric dentists serve half a million low-income children in 22 states.

According to the Justice Department, the clinics filed claims for unnecessary pediatric dentistry – including so-called "baby root canals" and other possibly risky procedures.

Forba has agreed to pay $24 million to settle the lawsuits, but did not admit wrongdoing. Their clinics remain open, still providing dentistry for children, though the dental management company will add precautions against future Medicaid fraud.

Of course there's a pediatric dentist here and there who's unscrupulous… but a dental practice management company with chronic billing "inconsistencies"?!? Not a good sign.

Read more: Forba Settles Suits Over Unneeded Child Dental Work

Because children may be particularly sensitive to the hormone-like effects of BPA, this issue is of particular concern for the pediatric dentist.

Read more: Bisphenol-A in Dental Composite Worries Dentists

"Pedodontists make their money the old fashioned way – they earn it!" opined one general dentist.

"I love caring for kids," said one dentist, while another said, "I break out in hives when I treat anyone under 18.”

Here's what else dentists had to say about children's dentistry:

• “If you treat children like gold, you'll see their mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, and grandparents as well!” (Virginia dentist)
• “Life is too short.” (North Carolina dentist)
• “If they can be reasoned with and kept calm with nitrous, I'll treat them. I don't treat anyone that is screaming and crying, and I don't care how old they are!! Be calm, or take drugs!!” (Michigan dentist)
• “It seems like parents readily spend money on their kids but compromise on themselves if required.” (Endodontist)
• “If you do not enjoy treating them, then don't! They know you do not like it and they get traumatized.” (Illinois pediatric dentist)

Read more: Dentistry for Children Offered by Most Dental Practices

Rural and female dentists were most likely to practice pediatric dentistry.

Read more: After All, Kids Are the Dental Patients of the Future

In our most recent survey, we asked dentists if they encourage their adult patients to bring their children in for treatment. The overwhelming majority of dental practices (85%) are happy to accept pediatric patients. The remaining 15% prefer to treat patients over age 14. In addition, rural and female dentists were most likely to treat children.

• “No! I want to live a long life.” (North Carolina dentist)
• “I love it when patients bring their children in. I think I am a kid at heart and really can relate to them. It is so much fun.” (Minnesota dentist)
• “I prefer to treat adults. You have to take longer and charge less on kids.” (Colorado dentist)
• “If we are truly taking care of the needs of our patients, we should take care all of them, regardless of their age or profitability.” (North Carolina dentist)
• “Not quite all ages, but certainly about 7 and up, with one proviso: The child can act up only one time; after that, they get referred out.” (New York prosthodontist)
• “Only 1.8% of all dentists are pediatric dentists. Most dentists will see children under the age of 5 years.” (Ohio pediatric dentist)
• “Why not? If they are manageable, they can become your dental patients for life.” (Florida dentist)
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