A: Pediatric dentists are general dentists who complete two or more years of training after dental school. They receive a detailed education in childhood development, orthodontics and child psychology. During this training they work only with children. Because of this, they gain experience in dealing with kids during different developmental stages. A pediatric dentist uses special equipment for children, such as smaller x-ray film and smaller drills. Many offer educational materials to help both the child and parent learn about dental hygiene. Some pediatric dentists see patients until the age of 16, while others treat them right through the college years.