Pediatric dentistry is a well-defined, separate branch of dentistry. It includes certain elements of other branches, although it differs from them since treatments used on adults may not be used here in the same way. “A child is not the same as a small adult.”

BEGINNINGS:

It is never too early to begin caring for a child’s mouth.
An infant’s oral cavity and gums should be rubbed over with wet gauze, or any kind of clean fabric, several times per day. (There are special, small tissues with different flavours for those over 4 months old.) When the first teeth appear, you may start to use baby toothbrushes. Some types are available which may be slipped on the fingers.

FIRST VISIT TO DENTIST:

You can start regular visits to your dentist with your baby when the infant is one year old, but if decay is visible earlier, do not wait. It is important that all changes are recognised in time.

Children can be introduced to dental treatment in a pleasant, enjoyable way. It is quite easy to make sure that they are neither anxious nor afraid and babies often go to the dentist quite happily.
A friendly, relaxed atmosphere and a painless meeting will be the perfect start to a comfortable, life-long relationship between child and dentist.

BRUSHING THE TEET:

It is important to make brushing the teeth an attractive exercise. Parental example is extremely important since children like to imitate their elders. To make it a “fun” experience, brushing the teeth can be combined with counting, playing hide-and-seek with tooth fairies, and listening to music etc.
It very much depends upon the parents what habits their children develop in cleaning their teeth. It is also important to take great care in cleaning milk teeth, since a child’s limited manual skill means that parents have to help them physically. Ensuring that the teeth are cleaned effectively is the parent’s job!

TREATMENT:

The early recognition of tooth decay, their professional extraction (if needed) and taking care of milk-teeth are important for life-long, healthy teeth.
Decayed teeth have an adverse effect on the development of chewing and speaking and on general health.
Decay becomes dental pulp more easily at the deciduous teeth (milk teeth) stage and these necrotise much more rapidly than do the second teeth (the permanent teeth) which follow.
If we visit the dentist only when our child feels pain, milk teeth may be saved (although often painfully) but it may also be too late for treatment.

Fillings in milk teeth:

Small spots of decay can be smoothed down to a flat surface which can then be painted with a special, fluoride-containing material.
With larger areas of decay we remove the decayed part and insert glass isomer cement into the tooth. This bonds with the tooth tissue and contains fluoride, so preventing future decay. Many people believe that decayed milk teeth do not need to be filled since a child will lose these anyway. This is not true. Many milk teeth are replaced only when a child is 10 -11 years old, with the result that the second (permanent) teeth which grow in such an environment will also suffer damage.

Root treatment of milk teeth:

In cases when the decay is very deep, milk teeth may die and inflammation or even a cyst will develop. We open the teeth during treatment, clean them internally and leave them open until the problem ceases.
If we find a cyst near milk teeth (some are visible through the cheek), or if the child has a slight temperature, it may be important to use antibiotics, to control the inflammation.
When we have treated the cyst, we insert a special material which is used for the root- filling of milk teeth, after which we prepare a temporary filling. After 1-2 weeks, if there are no further problems, we insert a permanent filling.
If the tooth does not recover, then extraction may be needed.

Extraction of milk teeth:

When the second or permanent teeth start to grow, this creates pressure on the roots of the milk teeth, which is progressively absorbed.
In many cases a milk tooth is kept in place only by the gums but is not yet ready to come out: it might be painful and it is useless for chewing. Under these circumstances it is better to consult a dentist.
In such cases we use anaesthetic solutions or gels. (Flavoured products are available), and in those situations where the milk tooth does not move, but where it is still necessary to remove it, we use an injection.

Second teeth:

The manual skills of a child have developed, but it is still better to check precisely how he/she brushes his/her teeth (This should also be done at the age of 6 -7). The correct technique for brushing teeth should be permanently established in this period. We can use plaque-detecting tablets (which temporally change the colour of teeth) to reveal the presence of plaque.
There are more and larger teeth in a child’s mouth – first of all, the masticators (6 in number) appear and it is often misunderstood that, since these teeth are located behind the last milk teeth, they do not force out any milk teeth. Many parents also regard these as milk teeth and pay no attention to them. These permanent teeth are the most vulnerable in terms of decay.

Filling gingival sulci (pockets in the gums):

We close deep pockets between permanent teeth with fluoride-containing material. This is a safe and painless intervention and prevents decay.
The second teeth are at first immature and do not contain enough calcium; they are also unprotected against bacteria. Whilst brushing the teeth the bristles of tooth brushes do not penetrate down to the deeper parts of narrow, irregular shaped pockets and such teeth decay more easily in spite of regular brushing.
Materials used for filling the pockets give a protective coating to the threatened teeth and make them easier to clean.
It is best to make this intervention within 6 months of the new tooth breaking through. It protects teeth for 3—4 years, but it is recommended to carry out make a check every year. In this way, if any problem with the closing materials is discovered, it can be replaced.