Healthy and beautiful teeth are a foundation stone for your child, enabling him to go through life with a smile.

 

Preventative check-ups are the best protection for children. If treatment should then be necessary, the trust between parents, child and the dentist has great significance. Your child has top priority at S S Dental Care.

 

PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY / Pedodontics

Pediatric Dentistry is a dental specialty that concentrates its attention on infants and children providing preventive and therapeutic oral health care. During the “growth” phase of a child, special approaches are needed to guide the dental growth and development in order to avoid future dental problems.

 

First Visit

A simple guide for when to schedule a first visit:

  • no longer than 6 months after first tooth is erupted
  • at least by 12 months old
  • as soon as possible if you have any querries

 

There is a significant value for early well baby dental checkups. In particular, checkups for very young children address many concerns including teaching adults how to care for their child’s teeth and gums, how to help their children learn to care for themselves, answering parents questions and concerns, and planning for future dental health.

 

Checkups

Education and prevention are the cornerstones of our concern for the dental health of children. In addition to teaching parents and guardians about dental care for their child, checkups are an appropriate time to comfortably and easily evaluate:

How many teeth are present Habit evaluation
Are all teeth present Homecare / prevention
Loose teeth if any Fluoride use
Braces / bite evaluation Review diet
Cavity check Address adult’s concerns
Check health of gums Teach adults how to care for child’s teeth

 

Common Procedures Include

  1. A) 2-MIN FLUORIDE APPLICATIONS

For prevention from effects of chocolates; Colas; sticky foods on teeth

A child’s teeth are more prone to decay due to lack of proper dexterity of brushing. Application of fluoride varnishes at regular intervals strengthens the tooth structure by incorporating fluoride ions into the structure making them more prone to acid dissolution. Not only do the permanent but also milk teeth benefit from fluoride treatment.

 

  1. B) FLUORIDE FILLINGS

For correction of cavities in milk & permanent teeth

 

  1. C) PIT & FISSURE SEALS

Most recommended way of caries prevention by blocking deep pits & fissures of teeth

  • The chewing surfaces of teeth are never flat. They have in fact certain depressions called Pit and Fissures which serve as potential traps for food and bacteria making the teeth susceptible for decay. Although other factors such as dietary habits, oral hygiene and amount of sugar intake do pay an important role but the pits and fissures have been suggested as “the single most important anatomic feature leading to the development of tooth decay”. Therefore as a preventive measure certain pits and fissure sealants are placed.
  • The decay inhibiting properties of sealants are attributed to the physical obstruction of the pits and grooves. This prevents penetration of fermentable sugars and the bacteria cannot produce acid that causes tooth decay. The safety and effectiveness of pit and fissure sealants as a decay preventive measure has been confirmed by the American Dental Association.

 

  1. D) ORTHODONTIC ASSESMENT

Opinion from specialist Orthodontist whether your child needs Braces

 

  1. E) HABIT BREAKING APPLIANCES

For correction of bad habits like Thumb-sucking; Mouth breathing; Tongue –thrusting

These appliances are basically reminding aids that assist the child who is willing to quit the habit but is not able to do so as the habit has entered the subconscious level. They may be removable or fixed appliances.

 

  1. F) SPACE MAINTAINERS

To prevent any gum problem

A space maintainer is a removable or fixed appliance designed to maintain an existing space. Space maintainers are usually fitted in children when they have lost baby teeth early. The gap left from losing this tooth needs to be held open for the permanent tooth to erupt in the correct position.

 

  1. G) SCALING & POLISHING OF TEETH

To prevent any gum problem

 

  1. H) Root Canal Treatment in milk teeth

In cases where tooth decay extends deep into the nerve portion of the tooth it might be necessary to perform a root canal as described for the permanent tooth. Although the morphology of milk teeth makes the treatment difficult, it might still be considered as a better alternative to tooth extraction.

 

  1. I) Mechanical Aids:

 

  1. J) Pit and Fissure sealants

 

Taking care of milk teeth

A common question that parents ask is “why spend on the maintenance of milk teeth when they are to be finally replaced by the permanent ones?”

 

Milk teeth are as important as the permanent ones because

  • Baby teeth are important in proper feeding and nutrition.
  • Milk teeth serve as space maintainers for the proper spacing and alignment of the permanent teeth.
  • Healthy milk teeth are crucial in helping the baby learn how to speak properly.
  • Healthy looking teeth are important in building self-confidence at an early age. Small children because of immaturity are quick to tease peers about ugly looking or decayed teeth.

 

Baby Bottle Tooth Decay (Nursing Bottle Caries)

The term describes a dental condition which involves the rapid decay of many or all the baby teeth of an infant or child. The teeth most likely to be damaged are the upper front teeth since they are the first teeth to erupt and thus have the longest exposure time to the sugars in the feeding bottle. The lower front teeth tend to be protected by the tongue as the child sucks on the nipple of the bottle or the breast.

 

Baby Bottle Tooth Decay is caused by long exposure of a child’s teeth to liquid containing sugars generally when the baby falls asleep with a bottle containing milk or juice or a pacifier dipped in honey etc. The liquid pools around the front teeth. During sleep, the bacteria living in every baby’s mouth, turns the milk sugar or other sugars to acid which causes the decay.

 

By the time the condition is noticed by the parents it may be too late and extractions of the decayed teeth may be necessary. As a result, your child may suffer from long term disorders which include speech impediments, possible psychological damage, crooked or crowded teeth, and poor oral health.

 

The condition can be easily prevented by:

  • Cleaning your child’s teeth daily
  • Giving plain water after a bottle of juice, milk, or formula (or when awake, sip on it for long periods of time as a pacifier)
  • Starting bottle weaning by at least an year
  • Making sure your child gets the fluoride needed to prevent decay
  • Having regular dental visits for your child beginning when their first tooth erupts