Pediatric dentistry, also called ‘’Children’s Dentistry’’ focuses on treating children who require gentler treatment and children and adolescents with special needs and disabilities. Like all dentists, the pediatric dentist or pedodontist focuses on oral health, disease prevention and treatment, and dental caries.
Pediatric dentists educate families and other dental professionals on how to treat children. They are also experts at explaining procedures to children and building trust with their young patients.
Pediatric dentistry has the following actions for children’s dental health:
Typically, traumatic childhood experiences are what cause dental phobia. Specialist physicians manage children’s dental conditions, allowing for uncomplicated dental procedures and preventive measures in the long run as well as initial good communication with children. In addition to making sure the child becomes accustomed to the dentist, one of the key responsibilities of the pedodontist is to monitor the child’s mental and physical growth. Most people with dental phobia recall a negative experience with a dentist from their childhood. Pedodontists are dentists that specialize in working with children, unlike regular dentists.
Pedodontists are experts in both the anatomical makeup of the developing teeth and the overall dentition. This information makes it simple to identify issues with tooth eruption. For this reason, pedodontists must conduct children’s dental examinations and dental treatments. Pediatric dentistry can anticipate new orthodontic issues, conduct preventative measures, and refer patients to an orthodontist if necessary. Instead of repairing cavities that have already developed on the teeth, pediatric dentistry will take steps to prevent them.
Milk dentition begins at 6 months of age. The lower anterior region is where the first milk teeth erupt, while the upper anterior region follows a few months later. By the age of three, a child loses all of his milk teeth—20 in total, 10 on each side of the mouth. Up until the age of 6-7, the primary dentition does not alter. First molars, which are located behind the primary teeth, as well as the incisors in the front, undergo a change at age 7. The protection of permanent teeth is the concern that parents should focus on at this age. First molars are frequently mistaken for milk teeth and receive little attention. To protect these teeth, first of all, proper oral care habits and then a ‘fissure sealant’ procedure performed by a physician is required.
Milk teeth play a crucial role in maxillofacial skeletal system development. The chewing system, teeth, jaw joint, skeleton, and muscles are a whole and if any part is missing, the development will pause. The presence of milk teeth in the jaw bones is also important for the growth of the bones. We can compare this to a tree’s roots preventing erosion in the soil. In the early loss of milk teeth, the jaw bones cannot provide the required expansion and guide the permanent teeth. In this respect, the protection of primary dentition is crucial.
Fluorine is one of seven trace elements that are crucial for maintaining human health. dem are equally important to permanent teeth. Children’s teeth become strong and more resistant to decay when topical fluoride is applied to both their primary and permanent teeth. Fluorine is a chemical that makes the tooth’s structure stronger. This substance interacts with the tooth’s organic structure when it is applied, boosting the tooth’s resistance to caries.
Milk teeth are known to decay more quickly. Fluoridation is a crucial and effective scientific method to fight caries, as it takes kids a while to develop effective and consistent brushing habits. After removing food and plaque residues from the tooth surface, the teeth are dried and sealed off from saliva before a fluoride gel or varnish is applied.
The patient should refrain from eating certain foods for 1-2 hours after the application. It is beneficial to use food and beverages after consulting your doctor. Fluor can be applied safely and without side effects in a clinical setting because it only affects the tooth surfaces.
Fissure sealant application is a process in which the recesses and cavities in the molars are covered with filling material to prevent tooth decay. The filling material quickly adheres to the recesses and grooves of the teeth, forming a protective shield over the tooth enamel. Fissure sealant application can protect teeth against caries for up to 10 years. It can also keep food residues from entering teeth and bacteria from multiplying.
The fissure sealant application is painless and only takes a few minutes. The molars are sealed in the following manner: