Oral health care should be given to children at a very early time even to babies who do not have their milk teeth yet. Dental experts encourage parents to provide oral care to their children from infancy especially when they already get their first milk tooth or as soon as they turn 1. This is the best time, according to dentists, for children to begin with their first dental visit. And for all of your child’s oral health care needs, you should be seeking the professional help of a pediatric dentist.
WHO IS PEDODONTIST AND WHY DO WE NEED?
Pediatric dentists/pedodontists are the specialized dentists who treat children up to the age of 16 years with teeth as well as gum related problems. they provide primary and comprehensive preventive and therapeutic oral health care for infants and adolescents and including those who need special care.
WHAT TREATMENT MODALITIES ARE OFFERED BY THE PEDIATRIC DENTIST
Pediatric Dentists work towards maintaining good oral health in kids. The treatment provided by them includes:
- Examination of infants and teens. It includes the oral caries assessment in mothers and their kids.
- They are an expert in protecting your kids’ teeth by doing a fluoride treatment.
- Habit counseling in which the doctors help to keep the habits of kids in control.
- Correction of crooked and misaligned teeth.
- Treatment of tooth cavities. Treatment of dental injuries
TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR KIDS
Root Canal Treatment (Pulpectomy) In Milk Teeth
If you think your child is too young to need root canal treatment, think again — there is no age limit for this treatment. If his/her primary (baby) teeth have been injured, or if decay has advanced deep into the roots of your child’s teeth, a root canal treatment to stabilize teeth may be needed. Root canal treatment removes the infection from the pulp, the living tissue that is found inside the tooth’s roots. The pulp contains the tooth’s nerves, so tooth pain is often an indication that decay has moved into the pulp.
Root canal treatment is a simple procedure wherein instruments are used to clean the root canals of teeth followed by inserting a medication so as to maintain the teeth properly in the oral cavity.
Oral Habits In Children
Frequently children acquire certain habits that may either temporarily or permanently be harmful to teeth and tooth-supporting structures. These habits are acquired as a result of repetition. In the initial stages, there is a conscious effort to perform the act. Later the act becomes less conscious and if repeated often enough may enter the realms of unconsciousness. Some common oral habits seen in children include thumb sucking, mouth breathing, tongue thrusting, lip biting, grinding of teeth, and nail-biting.
Certain reminding appliances called habit-breaking appliances assist the child who is willing to quit the habit but is not able to do so as the habit has entered the subconscious level. They may be removable or fixed appliances.
Common Appliances in Pediatric Dentistry:
- Twin Block
- Frankly Habit Breaking Appliances
- Space Maintainers
- Head Gear
PREVENTION TREATMENTS FOR KIDS:
Fluoride Application
A common problem for which parents usually take their children to the dentist is decay. This is because there is a lack of proper dexterity of brushing in children. To avoid the problem of decay, parents should get the Fluoride application treatment in children at regular intervals. Fluoride helps to fight plaque and bacteria which can cause enamel loss which further causes cavities. Fluoride also strengthens the tooth structure & helps in bone growth. Under this treatment, the dentist incorporates fluoride ions into the tooth structure making them more prone to acid dissolution. This treatment is equally useful for both milk & permanent teeth.