Kids Dentistry
Kids Dental Health Month
The month of February every year is dedicated to Children’s Dental Health. From the first baby tooth to the wisdom tooth (last permanent tooth to erupt), it is a journey that every child goes through, one that has to be monitored closely by parents. After all, teeth are required for an entire lifetime!
Close observation of the formative and eruptive stages of teeth can predict future growth problems that can be easily addressed at a young age, which if left untreated can get complicated in adolescence. This includes developmental problems of teeth, growth problems of the jaw bones, teeth alignment and other dental problems that can affect baby teeth.
Dr.Smilez is a Kids friendly and one of the best dental centers’ in Chennai for kids with specialist pediatric dentists available for quality childcare.
What is the importance of baby teeth?
Children should visit a pediatric dentist when their first tooth comes in or no later than their first birthday.
What is the importance of baby teeth?
Even though your child will one day lose his/her primary teeth, it is important to care for them. The primary teeth are essential for the everyday function such as eating and speech development. Early Childhood decay, is a preventable condition that causes painful teeth and gums and may affect your child’s self-esteem. The primary teeth are also important to provide space for the larger adult teeth to erupt.
Why should baby teeth be filled or repaired?
- Baby teeth that have decay should be restored to prevent the decay from spreading
- Baby teeth should be cared for as they serve the same important purposes as the permanent teeth
- Baby teeth should be kept in place until they are replaced by permanent teeth. They reserve the space for the permanent teeth to grow into
- If baby teeth are lost too early, the adjoining teeth can drift into the spaces that are needed for the permanent teeth. This can then cause crowding problems because there is insufficient space for the permanent teeth.
- Decayed teeth causing pain will also discourage the child from eating thereby affecting the general health also.
What is the best way of restoring a decayed baby tooth?
- Fillings can be done similar to adult teeth with composite material
- Ready-made strip crowns can be placed for badly broken down front teeth
- Pulp therapy with stainless steel caps are done for badly decayed back teeth
How can I get the dental treatment done if my child is not co-operative?
If your child requires multiple dental treatments and is too young to co-operate, all the required procedures can be completed in a single visit under General Anesthesia.
How safe is General Anesthesia for dental procedures?
Complete Dentures
A Complete Denture is a removable replacement option for all teeth within an arch.
How can we prevent tooth decay in children?
- Correct diet: Too much sugar in the diet, and dental plaque on the teeth, are the main causes of tooth decay and gum disease. It is important to cut down the amount of sugar consumed and to eat a generally balanced and healthy diet.
- Oral hygiene and plaque control: It is important to maintain oral hygiene by brushing twice a day
- Fluoride: Fluoride makes the teeth more resistant to decay and can also reverse the initial decay process. Professional fluoride application can be done by the dentist in the form of gels or varnishes
- Fissure sealants: They are thin composite materials that are placed in the fissures of a newly erupted permanent tooth. They aid in making the tooth surface more smooth and easy for maintenance
