DENTOCARE 

We’ll help your child take care of their teeth and learn about the importance of good oral hygiene!

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Importance of Baby Teeth

Even though they eventually are replaced by adult teeth, baby teeth are still very important. The enamel on baby teeth is much thinner, which means that decay can progress quicker than in adult teeth. If not treated early, the decay can become very large and the tooth may need to be extracted. Adjacent teeth could then drift into the missing tooth space, making it difficult for the adult tooth to come in.

Having missing teeth can also make it difficult for your child to eat or learn speaking. If the decay in a baby tooth spreads to the pulp, it can even affect the developing adult tooth underneath. This can result in decay or brown spots on the enamel of the new adult tooth.

 

WHY IS KIDS DENTISTRY IMPORTANT?

 

Humans start teething when they are as young as 6 months old and develop their set of primary ‘milk’ teeth.

At the age of 6-7 years, humans start losing their milk teeth and a permanent set of teeth starts emerging. Because the milk teeth will eventually fall off, some parents tend to ignore taking their child to a dentist.

However, these milk teeth form the basis of developing permanent teeth. If proper care is not taken the problems can emerge which will last a lifetime. In recent years the cases of caries in children have grown manifold. Therefore, it is always advised to start taking care of your baby’s teeth in the very early stages of their life. This includes setting an Oral Hygiene routine and regular visits to a dentist

 

Your Child’s Dental Checkup

Regular dental checkups at an early age are vital to the health of your child’s teeth. At your appointment, our pediatric dentist be happy to educate you and your child about brushing, flossing, oral habits, diet and any supplements that we may recommend. If there is a cavity on a tooth, we can repair it with a white filling or a baby crown. We are patient with children and you and your child are always welcome to come in for a visit and a tour of the office to familiarize yourself with the surroundings.

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PREVENTION TREATMENTS FOR KIDS:

 

Fluoride application

A common problem for which parents usually take their children to the dentist is decay. This is because there is a lack of proper dexterity of brushing in children. To avoid the problem of decay, parents should get the Fluoride application treatment in children at regular intervals. Fluoride helps to fight plaque and bacteria which can cause enamel loss which further causes cavities. Fluoride also strengthens the tooth structure & helps in bone growth. Under this treatment, the dentist incorporates fluoride ions into the tooth structure making them more prone to acid dissolution. This treatment is equally useful for both milk & permanent teeth.

 

Sealants

The main reason for decay is the food and bacteria that is trapped in the pits & fissures of teeth. We chew food from the back teeth like molars and premolars which are never flat. The pits & fissures as discussed above are the depressions on these back teeth. They function as potential traps for bacteria & food and make it susceptible to decay. Therefore, as a preventive measure, certain pits and fissure sealants are placed.
Dental sealants then come to the rescue. Sealants are plastic coatings placed on the chewing surface of the permanent tooth. They protect the tooth from decay. Because of fissures the permanent back teeth, molars, and premolars are vulnerable to decay.

As we talked about the habits, it is important to inculcate the habit of maintaining good oral health at a very initial stage. This is an investment which will pay lifelong dividends in the form of healthy teeth and a healthy lifestyle. Parents should take initiatives to teach their children the correct technique of brushing and for that, it is highly important that they themselves should know the correct way of brushing. Make brushing a fun-filled activity for your child, brush along with them and encourage them to take preventive actions.

 

Toothpaste and Toothbrush

Apart from the aforementioned treatment options, make sure that your kids brush twice daily. Brushing before sleeping is extremely important because the food you eat during the day get stuck between your teeth and bacteria in your mouth will feed on that food overnight causing decay. If possible teach your child how to floss as it is the added protection for your teeth

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TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR KIDS

Dental Filling

There are various signs and symptoms where teeth fillings can be required. The symptoms could be as below:

• A hole in your tooth

• Dark spots on the tooth

• Food stuck between certain areas of the teeth

• Chipped or broken tooth

• Single or multiple cavities

 

If you come across any of the symptoms as mentioned above, then there is a chance that you need a teeth or dental filling. The final decision will be of your Dentist after a thorough oral examination.

 

Dental Filling can only be possible in painless tooth. In case of pain it may require root canal treatment.

 

Root Canal Treatment in Milk Teeth

If you think your child is too young to need root canal treatment, think again — there is no age limit for this treatment. If his/her primary (baby) teeth have been injured, or if decay has advanced deep into the roots of your child’s teeth, a root canal treatment to stabilize teeth may be needed.

Root canal treatment removes the infection from the pulp, the living tissue that is found inside the tooth’s roots. The pulp contains the tooth’s nerves, so tooth pain is often an indication that decay has moved into the pulp.

Root canal treatment is a simple procedure wherein instruments are used to clean the root canals of teeth followed by inserting a medication so as to maintain the teeth properly in the oral cavity.

 

Oral Habits in Children

Frequently children acquire certain habits that may either temporarily or permanently be harmful to teeth and tooth supporting structures. These habits are acquired as a result of repetition. In the initial stages, there is a conscious effort to perform the act. Later the act becomes less conscious and if repeated often enough may enter the realms of unconsciousness. Some common oral habits seen in children include thumb sucking, mouth breathing, tongue thrusting, lip biting, grinding of teeth and nail-biting.
Certain reminding appliances called habit breaking appliances 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.
Common Appliances in Dentistry:

• Twin Block

• Frankly

• Habit Breaking appliances

• Space Maintainers

• Head Gear

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What Is The Importance Of Milk Teeth?

As milk teeth erupt and fall, people often think that they do not matter in the overall part of oral hygiene. However, milk teeth play some really important roles, like:

• They play the primary role of biting, chewing, and grinding the food before digesting it

• They are also important in speech patterns and training

• Milk teeth are the basis of the development of the jaw bones and muscles.

• They provide the necessary shape of the mouth and room for permanent teeth to erupt.

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