Pedodontics, or pediatric dentistry, is the branch of dentistry dealing specifically with the oral care of children. A pedodontist, or pediatric dentist, receives training in child psychology, growth and development in addition to his or her regular dental training. Thus, they are an ideal choice for children with fears or behavioural problems that make visits to the regular dentist unproductive.

Because these dentists care for children from the time their first tooth appears until he or she has all their adult teeth, pedodontics focuses heavily on preventative oral care to reduce the risk of future complications. For example, a pedodontist can advise parents on how to stop prolonged thumb-sucking in their children, thus possibly reducing the risk of overbite. A pedodontist may also start interceptive orthodontic treatment to prepare a child's mouth for future orthodontic work.