PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY (PEDODONTICS)
Pediatric dentistry also known as pedodontics is a science field that aims to protect and maintain the milk and permanent teeth of children of 0-15 age as well as to treat rotten teeth, trauma genetic and birth related problems. The people who have mastered this science field are called pedodontists or pediatric dentists.
First Appointment with Pediatric Dentist
The first meeting with a pediatric dentist should be made after 6 months after the first milk teeth have emerged. First milk teeth persist during your child’s 6th month. This is why the first appointment with a pediatric dentist has to be done at the age of 1. It’s important for the first appointment to be made at the age of 1 to prevent milk teeth from rotting and to prevent the child from developing a fear of dentists.uşmaması açısından önemlidir.
Importance of Milk Teeth
The primary purpose of milk teeth is to give your child chewing function and ensure he has sufficient nutrients. Aside from this, it’s important to speak properly. The place the milk teeth occupy and protect the place for permanent teeth which are then replaced with the permanent teeth.
The habit of Brushing Teeth
When it comes to obtaining this habit the first question that comes to mind is when to start brushing the teeth. There are bacteria inside our mouths since birth. These bacteria are prone to rot teeth the moment our first teeth develop. This is why as soon as your baby’s first teeth appear you should start cleaning with a gauze or cheesecloth. Additionally, after meals making your baby consume plenty of water will help to clean the teeth. What is important is that for you to use the right dosage of fluoride based toothpaste for your child’s age. The toothpaste amount should be in the size of a pea during the age of 3-6 which at that children can develop the habit of brushing their teeth with their parents. Since your child hasn’t developed necessary hand motor skills you should brush his teeth after he brushes his teeth himself. It’s important to gain the habit of brushing teeth at a young age. For this habit to be obtained mom/dad needs to become a role model for the child. It shouldn’t be forgotten to turn brushing teeth into a game. For this toothbrushes that have music and lights that could grab his attention could be used.
Fear of Pediatric Dentists Among Children
It’s very important for a child to not develop a fear of pediatric dentists for both treatments during childhood to be done most effectively and for this fear to not persist through adulthood. To prevent your children from developing a fear, us pediatric dentists try to do the treatments like a game. For prevention of this anxiety, let’s take a look at what you mothers-fathers need to do: Avoid saying anything that will lead to your child fearing needles.
To beat pediatric dentist fear, make sure your child’s doctor is an expert in his field.
Motivate your children.
Using toys at home create a game where your child gives you an examination to you like a dentist.
Go to the doctor’s appointment with his friends.
Don’t give detailed information regarding the processes that will be done.
Frequently make appointments for dentist examinations.
Protective Treatments in Pediatric Dentistry
After your child’s teeth examination rotten teeth risk level is determined and emergent treatments are done then protective treatment plans are made to protect his other teeth. Protective applications are very important for children who commonly get rotten teeth among milk teeth and are in the high rotten teeth risk group. These treatments are consisting of tropical fluoride application, casein phosphopeptide amorphous calcium phosphate prescription and fissure sealant. The application where the natural indentations are directly covered thus preventing the connection of nutrients and bacteria is called fissure sealant.
Placeholders
Let’s learn the importance of inserting placeholders to the location of milk tooth that was pulled early:
Due to the fact that there will be an empty spot that remains from the missing milk teeth will cause neighboring teeth to fall through its location malocclusion of teeth might occur. In the cases of higher level loss of space, the teeth that were supposed to emerge might get submerged. Since these teeth are harder to clean they might get prone to rot. For this reason, a high count of teeth loss increases the chance of other gum and breath odor problems. Due to missing and devious teeth chewing function might get broken and can lead to aching in chewing muscles in the upcoming ages and jaw joint problems. The teeth that are not treated with placeholders can cause esthetical problems as well as psychological problems that occur due to them. Not inserting placeholders to the location of prematurely lost milk teeth will create the groundwork for more serious orthodontic problems in the future and will cause more expensive treatments.
There are two types of placeholders to be used for prematurely lost milk teeth: Stationary placeholders and mobile placeholders. Your pediatric dentist needs to determine which type is needed to be used.
There are two types of placeholders to be used for prematurely lost milk teeth: Stationary placeholders and mobile placeholders. Your pediatric dentist needs to determine which type is needed to be used.
My Child Has Fallen and His Tooth Is Broken/Came Out of Its Place, what Should I Do?
Tooth injuries are the number priority in terms of emergency in dentistry. When your child has experienced any type of teeth trauma you need to apply to a dentist as soon as possible. Reaching a dentist as soon as possible is an important factor that determined the success of treatment. If your child’s tooth is broken it must not be kept in a dry place, it should be taken to the dentist inside milk or water. If the broken piece is compatible with the teeth it can be agglutinated by your dentist and the teeth will be reverted back to their previous form. In the case where the broken piece is missing or is incompatible, the teeth can be successfully treated with esthetical fillings. After trauma there can be looseness, immersion, swinging and cracks, it can be removed completely with the root of the teeth. If your child’s tooth is removed from its place you need to put it in a mildly cold milk and quickly take it to a dentist. A removed tooth should never be kept in water or a dry place.
