Pedodontics or pediatric dentistry is a branch of science that aims to protect the health of milk and permanent teeth of children aged 0-14 and to treat diseases that occur.
ORAL – DENTAL HEALTH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHILDREN
Dentition periods in children can be examined in three separate periods:
1) 0-6 Years: Milk Teeth Array Period
Although milk teeth may vary, they begin to erupt after an average of 6 months, usually in the lower front region, and although this may change, they are completed at approximately 3 years of age. During this period, a total of 20 primary deciduous teeth (10 in the lower jaw and 10 in the upper jaw) are placed symmetrically.
2) 6-12 Years: Mixed Dentition Period
It is the age range when both milk molars and permanent incisor teeth appear in the mouth at the same time. Over time, milk molars are replaced by premolars and transition into the permanent dentition period.
3) Age 12 and After: Permanent Dentition Period
This is the period when the milk teeth completely fall out and the permanent teeth take their place in the mouth and the balance and contacts between the teeth are established.
DENTAL DEVELOPMENT
Your child’s first teeth are called baby teeth. These teeth are very important as they enable the child to chew and help him develop his speech. Milk teeth also serve to protect the permanent teeth that will come from underneath them. Maintaining the health of primary teeth prevents the need for orthodontic treatments in the future. Most importantly, a beautiful and healthy smile plays a role in improving your child’s self-confidence. Failure to treat problems in primary teeth can cause major problems.
BABY BOTTLE Caries
A common problem in babies and young children is bottle tooth decay. These cavities occur when sugar and sweets in milk, food, and fruit juices come into contact with the teeth for a long time. A child who falls asleep with sugary liquids during sleep is at risk. Because salivation increases during sleep and spreads sugar throughout the mouth. Teeth are affected as a result of caries-causing bacteria using this sugar and producing acid. Your child’s teeth should be checked regularly and brown spots that are signs of decay should be monitored. Regular tooth brushing should start immediately after the first tooth emerges. However, it is best to wipe the mouth regularly with a gauze even before the teeth erupt. The simplest way to prevent bottle cavities is to prevent the child from sleeping with a bottle or a pacifier dipped in sweets.
FINGER SUCKING
Thumb sucking is generally a harmless habit in children under the age of 5, but it can cause problems if it continues after the age of 6 when the first permanent teeth erupt. Until the age of 8, the jawbone is very soft and flexible. The pressure exerted by the finger during thumb sucking affects the development of the sensitive jaw, pushing the front teeth forward and pulling the lower teeth backwards. If the child cannot give up this habit, you can first establish a reward-punishment system. You can reward him on days when he doesn’t suck his thumb and punish him when he does. If the problem cannot be resolved this way, contact your dentist. An appliance made by your dentist will stop this bad habit in the child in a few days.
TREATMENTS APPLIED IN CHILDREN
Native Flour App
Flour should be applied to reduce the incidence of tooth decay in children. Flour makes the enamel layer of the tooth in which it has entered the structure extremely susceptible to caries formation.
Tooth decay in children has been prevented by adding Flour to drinking water abroad. Since this practice is not carried out in Turkey, we need to give fluoride to our children in other ways.
The teeth most at risk of decay in children are the six-year-old teeth. It is most useful to apply it to the six-year-old and twelve-year-old teeth. It can also be applied to premolars if necessary.
Fluoride is an element that prevents tooth decay and strengthens the structure of teeth. Fluoride is found in toothpastes as well as in some foods. However, because children often neglect to brush their teeth, they do not receive enough fluoride to help their teeth become resistant to decay. To compensate for this situation, topical fluoride applications are made.
Topical fluoride application is a method that can only be applied by dentists. Topical fluoride application is especially applied to children whose teeth are prone to decay. In this way, a sufficient amount of fluoride is deposited on the teeth and the structure of the teeth is strengthened and becomes resistant to decay.
Topical fluoride application can only be effective if applied every 6 months. For this, your children should visit the dentist regularly every 6 months.
Fissure Sealants
Fissure sealants are a form of preventive treatment that aims to protect the tooth against caries before caries develops. Research shows that 90% of the caries develop on the chewing surfaces of the molars. In the first months when the molars appear in the mouth, they are not yet fully calcified (hardened) and are prone to decay. With fissure sealants, the recesses and protrusions on the chewing surfaces of these teeth are filled, allowing food to accumulate there and therefore causing caries. The risk of its development can be prevented to a large extent. These treatments are considered very necessary, especially in individuals who are familially prone to caries.
Placeholders
Movable or fixed appliances made to preserve the places of milk teeth lost prematurely for any reason are called space maintainers. Early loss of primary teeth causes functional and aesthetic problems as well as some developmental problems. Milk teeth guide the permanent teeth that will erupt. If they are lost prematurely, the permanent teeth will erupt randomly and crookedness will occur. For this reason, development and caries monitoring should be carried out closely in primary school children in the mixed dentition period, without neglecting periodic checks.
Filling
In case of carious lesions occurring in primary filling teeth, the type of treatment is decided depending on the age of the tooth falling out, the depth of the caries and the tissue loss that occurs. Teeth can be restored with filling materials. Decays in permanent teeth can be restored with various filling materials or crowns depending on the indication.
Root Canal Treatment
When tooth tissue loses its vitality, it can cause pain and swelling. Loss of vitality of a tooth may occur as a result of tooth decay or trauma to the tooth. Advanced decay or discoloration of the tooth are signs of infection. Infection can be seen in milk teeth as well as permanent teeth. Antibiotics may need to be used before treatment. Depending on the situation, root canal treatment or tooth extraction may be performed.