Baltimore Dental . COM
*CHILDREN'S TEETH*
The Pediatric Dentist
The pediatric dentist is the specialist who is dedicated to the oral health of children
from infancy through the teenage years. The very young, pre-teens, and teenagers all need
different approaches in dealing with their behavior, guiding their dental growth and
development, and helping them avoid future dental problems. The pediatric dentist is best
qualified to meet these needs. Pediatric dentists have had special training, which allows
them to provide the most up-to-date and thorough treatment for a wide variety of
children's dental problems. They are trained and qualified to treat special patients who
may have emotional, physical, or mental handicaps. Because of this specialized training
and commitment to comprehensive oral health, many parents wisely choose a pediatric
dentist to treat their children.
Total Health Care
The pediatric dentist is concerned about a child's total health care and good oral
health is an important part of total health. To help your child stay totally healthy, the
pediatric dentist often works with pediatricians, other physicians, and other dental
specialists. Normal children as well as hospitalized, handicapped, and chronically ill
children often are served best through this team approach -- the pediatric dentist is an
important part of the child's health team.
Children
Children are a precious gift. An early start in regular dental care is an important
step on the road to total health. Pediatric dentists recommend that children begin routine
dental visits by age one so that any problems may be detected, treated early, or even
avoided completely.
Teens
As children become teenagers, their attitude toward dental care may change. Their
appearance and self-image are very important to them; decayed teeth or poorly positioned
teeth or jaws make them very self-conscious. Teens also eat frequently and snack foods
tend to become a major part of their regular diet. Pediatric dentists are taught
techniques to manage the special problems of teens. Techniques to deal with behavior, to
restore and guide teeth, and to teach preventive dental health care are designed with the
teen in mind. When your pediatric dentist has followed your child from early youth into
the teen years, he/she can subtly change the approach to the child's own special needs in
a sensitive, caring, and professional manner.
Special Patients
An important part of the education of a pediatric dentist is concerned
with the medical and dental problems of the special patient. People with significant
medical, physical, or mental disabilities often present unique challenges to dentists.
Pediatric dentists are specially trained in techniques that ensure excellent care for
these patients.
Tooth Decay
Tooth decay (cavities or caries) is a progressive disease that often begins in very
young children. Decay is a result of the interaction between bacteria that are normally on
our teeth and sugars in the everyday diet. The bacteria use those sugars to produce acid.
A tooth exposed to this acid will lose mineral, and that loss is the first step toward
tooth decay. Your pediatric dentist can remove the decay and use modern materials such as
tooth-colored or silver fillings to restore the tooth to a healthy state. If tooth damage
is very severe, there may be nerve damage and a stainless steel crown might be required.
Your pediatric dentist is familiar with treatment techniques required by extensive tooth
decay and can employ medications that control pain and alleviate your child's apprehension
about treatment. Many pediatric dentists are doing research to learn how to prevent dental
decay and other forms of disease. Visiting a pediatric dentist early in the child's
growing years can help avoid unnecessary decay and dental treatment later.
Prevention
Pediatric dentists advise parents that regular dental care should begin by one year of
age. By this age, many children already have dental decay. The prevention of dental
disease is an important consideration during the first few visits. Your pediatric dentist
will discuss gum diseases and explain how to avoid them or how to minimize damage if it
already has started. He/she will discuss a program of preventive home care including
brushing, flossing, diet control, and the importance of fluorides. He/she also may discuss
nursing decay (bottle-mouth syndrome), a pattern of decay associated with prolonged
nursing. The teeth in a child who either sleeps with a bottle or who nurses frequently can
develop a type of decay that attacks quite rapidly. The upper front teeth and then the
upper and lower back teeth decay rapidly and all of the baby teeth may be destroyed if the
condition is not detected and corrected early enough. To prevent nursing caries, pediatric
dentists recommend that a child be weaned by approximately 12 months of age.
Decay Prevention Using Sealants
A sealant is a clear or shaded plastic material that your pediatric dentist may apply
to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. Because the back teeth have depressions and
grooves on their chewing surfaces, they are difficult or impossible to clean. As you can
see from the picture below, the sealant forms a coating or barrier to protect the tooth
from bacteria and bits of food. By protecting the depressions and grooves with a coating
of sealant, your pediatric dentist can dramatically reduce the risk of decay for children
and teens.
Importance of Primary Teeth
It is very important that primary teeth are kept until they are lost naturally. They
serve a number of important functions. They help maintain good nutrition by permitting
your child to chew properly. They are important in allowing good pronunciation and speech
habits; and they help your child feel good about the way he/she looks to others. Primary
teeth also help guide the proper eruption of the permanent teeth. When primary teeth are
lost too early, the space that is left should be maintained by a "space
maintainer" to ensure that there will be enough room for the permanent teeth when
they erupt. Your pediatric dentist has the knowledge required to apply both preventive and
corrective techniques that will maintain the health of your child's teeth. Many times
he/she can make a minor correction that will eliminate major dental work later.
Dental Injuries
Falls at home or on the playground and athletic injuries often cause damage to the
teeth and gums. Many injuries are obvious but some can be hidden. It is important to have
your pediatric dentist examine the child as soon as possible after the incident even if
the wounds don't look too bad, you should go to the dentist as soon as possible after the
injury so that no teeth are lost from hidden injuries beneath the gums. Prompt treatment
often can help stop later bite problems. Quick action often can save a tooth that has been
knocked completely out of the socket!
Management of Bite Problems & Growth and Development of Children Disturbances in the normal growth and development of children can occur in many ways. Bite problems (teeth in the wrong positions -- "malocclusion") are often a concern to parents. Some of these problems are hereditary, such as missing or extra teeth from birth, but many are caused by other factors like thumbsucking or early loss of the baby teeth. It is important to detect bite problems and determine their cause as soon as possible. Your pediatric dentist's knowledge of growth and development allows him/her to detect and treat these problems at an early age. This not only avoids bite problems later, it may improve your child's appearance, speech, and ability to eat and digest foods properly.
Developmental Abnormalities Sometimes there are disturbances when a child is
developing, which can cause discoloration and/or deformation of his teeth. These
disturbances can be local, disturbing only one or a few teeth, or they can be systemic,
disturbing most of the teeth. These defects can affect normal chewing as well as adversely
affect the child's looks (which can cause emotional problems). Your pediatric dentist can
provide comprehensive treatment that will not only restore the teeth to their normal
function and appearance, but will also help your child feel better about his/her looks.
Children's Behavior in the Dental Office Pleasant visits to the dental office help a
child establish trust and confidence that will last a lifetime. Pediatric dentists and
their staffs have been specially trained to help young, apprehensive children feel good
about seeing the dentist and taking care of their teeth. Friendly, compassionate
professionals and bright, cheerful office surroundings are all there to help your child
have healthy teeth and gums.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
This Academy, with more than 3,700 dedicated professionals, was founded in 1948 by men
and women with a special love for children. The Academy emphasizes a three-part approach
to caring for the children of this country and world: practice -- treating children in the
dental office; teaching -- educating future pediatric dentists relative to the best
possible care for children; and research -- working in laboratories, in universities, and
industry to develop even better methods of preventing oral diseases and treating problems
of the teeth and gums. Together the three parts of the Academy work for the benefit of
your child and future children.
Dental Checklist for Infants and Toddlers
Birth to 6 months
- ____ Clean mouth with gauze after feedings and at bedtime.
- ____ Ask your pediatrician or pediatric dentist about fluoride supplements.
- ____ Regulate feeding habits.
6 to 12 months
- ____ First tooth should appear; time to see the pediatric dentist for an exam.
- ____ Begin to brush teeth after each feeding and at bedtime with small, soft-bristled
brush.
- ____ Baby begins to walk; be alert to dental injuries.
- ____ Wean from breast or bottle by first birthday.
12 to 24 months
- ____ Follow schedule of exams and cleanings recommended by pediatric dentist.
- ____ Start using pea-sized portions of fluoridated toothpaste when child is able to
rinse.
- ____ Most primary teeth have erupted.
