Dental Topics

Pediatric Dentistry

Pediatric Dentistry is the specialty of dentistry that focuses on the oral health of young people. After completing a four-year dental school curriculum, two to three additional years of rigorous training are required to become a pediatric dentist. This specialized program of study and hands-on experience prepares pediatric dentists to meet the needs of infants, children and adolescents, including persons with special health care needs.

Preventive Dentistry

Preventive dentistry begins with the first tooth. An initial oral evaluation visit should occur within six months of the eruption of the first tooth and no later than 12 months of age. The pediatric dentist will teach you how to protect your infant’s dental health. The earlier the dental visit, the better the chance of preventing dental disease and helping your child build a cavity-free smile. Children with healthy teeth chew food easily and smile with confidence.

Cleaning baby’s teeth

Starting at birth, clean your child’s gums with a soft infant toothbrush or cloth and water. As soon as the teeth begin to appear, start brushing twice daily using fluoridated toothpaste and a soft, age-appropriate sized toothbrush. Use a smear of toothpaste to brush the teeth of a child less than 2 years of age. For the 2-5 year old, dispense a pea-size amount of toothpaste and perform or assist your child’s tooth brushing. Remember that young children do not have the ability to brush their teeth effectively.

Regular dental visits

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a dental check-up at least twice a year for most children. Some children need more frequent dental visits because of increased risk of tooth decay, unusual growth patterns or poor oral hygiene. Regular dental visits help your child stay cavity-free. Teeth cleanings remove debris that build up on the teeth, irritate the gums and cause decay. Fluoride treatments renew the fluoride content in the enamel, strengthening teeth and preventing cavities. Hygiene instructions improve your child’s brushing and flossing, leading to cleaner teeth and healthier gums.

X-ray use and safety

Since every child is unique, the need for dental X-ray films varies from child to child. Films are taken only after reviewing your child’s medical and dental histories and performing a clinical examination, and only when they are likely to yield information that a visual examination cannot.

In general, children need X-rays more often than adults. Their mouths grow and change rapidly. They are more susceptible than adults to tooth decay. For children with a high risk of tooth decay, The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends X-ray examinations every six months to detect cavities developing between the teeth. Children with a low risk of tooth decay require X-rays less frequently.

Pediatric Dentists are particularly careful to minimize the exposure of child patients to radiation. With contemporary safeguards, the amount of radiation received in a dental X-ray examination is extremely small.

Fluoride

Using fluoride for the prevention and control of decay is proven to be both safe and effective. Fluoride inhibits loss of minerals from tooth enamel and encourages remineralization, strengthening areas that are weakened and beginning to develop cavities. Fluoride also affects bacteria that cause cavities, discouraging acid attacks that break down the tooth. Risk of decay is reduced even more when fluoride is combined with a healthy diet and good oral hygiene.

Sealants

Sealants protect the grooved and pitted surfaces of the teeth, especially the chewing surfaces of back teeth where most cavities in children are found. Made of clear or shaded plastic, sealants are applied to the teeth to help keep them cavity-free. Even if your child brushes and flosses carefully, it is difficult and sometimes impossible to clean the tiny grooves and pits on certain teeth. Food and bacteria build up in these crevices, placing your child in danger of tooth decay. Sealants “seal out” food and plaque, thus reducing the risk of decay.

Nitrous oxide/oxygen (laughing gas)

Most children are calm, comfortable and confident in a pediatric dental office. Sometimes, however, a child may feel anxious before or during treatment. Your child may need more support than a gentle, caring manner to feel comfortable. Nitrous oxide/ oxygen is a very safe, effective sedative agent used to calm a child’s fear of the dental visit and enhance effective communication. Your child remains fully conscious when breathing nitrous oxide/oxygen. Additionally, it works well for children whose gag reflex interferes with dental treatment.

Diet and Snacking

A healthy diet is a balanced diet that naturally supplies all the nutrients your child needs to grow. A balanced diet is one that includes the following major food groups: Fruit, Vegetables, Grains, Meat & Beans, and Milk. Children must have a balanced diet for their teeth to develop properly. They also need a balanced diet for healthy gum tissue around the teeth.

Here are some tips for your child’s diet and dental health.

Ask your pediatric dentist to help you assess your child’s diet.
Do not routinely stock your pantry with sugary or starchy snacks. Buy fun foods for special times.
Limit the number of snack times, and choose nutritious snacks.
Provide a balanced diet, and save foods with sugar or starch for meal times.
Do not put your young child to bed with a bottle of milk, formula or juice.
If your child chews gum or sips soda, choose those without sugar.

Dental Emergencies

Toothache: Clean the area around the sore tooth thoroughly. Carefully brush and floss the area and then rinse to dislodge trapped food or debris. Do not place aspirin on the gum or on the aching tooth. If face is swollen, apply a cold compress. Take acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain. See a dentist as soon as possible.

Cut or Bitten Tongue, Lip or Cheek: Apply ice to bruised areas. If there is bleeding, apply firm but gentle pressure with a clean gauze or cloth. If bleeding does not stop after 15 minutes or cannot be controlled by simple pressure, take the child to a hospital emergency room

Knocked-Out Permanent Tooth: Find the tooth and rinse it gently in cool water. Do not scrub or clean it with soap (Use only water!) If possible, replace the tooth in the socket immediately and hold it there with clean gauze or a wash cloth. If you can’t put the tooth back in the socket, place the tooth in a clean container with cold milk, saliva or water. Get to the dental office or the emergency room immediately. The faster you act, the better your chances of saving the tooth.

Broken Tooth: Rinse dirt from injured area with warm water. Place cold compresses over the face in the area of the injury. Locate and save any broken tooth fragments. Contact a dentist as soon as possible as immediate dental attention may be necessary.