Pediatric Dentistry and Why it Suits Your Child

Pediatric dentistry is a specialized branch of dentistry that focuses on treating children’s teeth. It is also known as pedodontics. The target groups for this field are infants, young children, and adolescents. A pediatric dentist performs the following:

• Examining children’s teeth
• Treatment of children dental problems
• Nutritional and lifestyle counseling on taking care of children’s teeth
• Providing emergency dental care
• Distributing medications for relaxation of teeth
• Discouraging habits that may lead to dental problems

Dental Problems Facing Kids

The most common dental problems that affect kids are:

• Tooth/teeth loss
• Dental cavities
• Tooth decay
• Bleeding gums
• Teeth discoloration

Treatment Procedures for the Dental Problems

Specialized procedures are carried out to treat various problems. Your dentist chooses a treatment method depending on the nature and extent of the damage.

Enamel Micro-Abrasion

Your dentist applies a compound to remove stainings or any discoloration of your child’s teeth. This procedure is aimed at whitening teeth.

Dental Extraction

Extraction is always a last resort. The dentist removes a decayed or broken tooth and replaces it. If the gap is for a single tooth, he or she opts for a temporary crown to restore a deciduous tooth. For permanent teeth, your dentist may replace the tooth using a permanent crown or a dental implant. A dental bridge may be used in case the gap is bigger than a single tooth.

Pulp Treatment

Pulp therapy involves the treatment of infected blood vessels and nerves in the teeth. This therapeutic method is resorted to in the case of a tooth injury or extensive tooth decay. A tooth with such a problem is painful and comes with difficulty in chewing. Failure to treat the problem, your child will be uncomfortable and may develop other problems.

Colored Fillings

Tooth-colored fillings are used to replace front teeth to enhance cosmetic appearance. They are used to repair broken teeth and decayed areas of a tooth.

Space Maintainers

Space maintainers are used to holding the space left when a primary tooth is lost. If space is not maintained, the teeth on both sides of the extraction may drift towards space and prevent the eruption of permanent teeth.

Dental Crowns

Crowns are used to replace lost teeth. Temporary crowns are used to replace primary teeth, and permanent ones are used to replacing permanent teeth. Stainless steel crowns are used to replace teeth that are severely decayed. They play a role in holding white and silver fillings.

Dental Sealants

Sealants are applied on the chewing surfaces of back teeth. They are fluoridated hence prevent tooth decay and dental cavities. They have a lifespan of 3 to 5 years. Some habits, such as chewing on ice, may shorten their lifespan.

What Does Pediatric Dental Care Entail?

Taking care of your child’s teeth is so important. It aids in:

• Preventing tooth decay
• Maintaining strong teeth
• Enhancing your child’s smile
• Reducing the risk of developing other dental problems

Dr. Satinder Jawandha recommends the following measures in taking care of your child’s teeth:

• Proper brushing of teeth using fluoride toothpaste and a toothbrush with gentle bristles at least twice a day
• Flossing your child’s teeth at least once in a day
• Ensure your child does not bite on hard food-stuffs, such as ice
• When playing aggressive sports, they should wear mouthguards
• Eating foods rich in calcium for stronger teeth as well as crunchy fruits
• Avoiding sugary and sticky foodstuffs
• Regular visits to your dentist to examine for any potential problems
• Drinking water regularly, to wash plaque and debris stuck on the teeth

When Should I Visit a Children’s Dentist?

Dentists recommend visits twice a year. There are factors that force you to visit sooner. Some of these factors are:

• Pain on the teeth
• Swollen gums
• Bleeding gums on gentle brushing
• Weak or loose teeth
• Teeth discoloration
• Misaligned teeth

A dentist will examine potential problems upon visiting and opt for the most appropriate procedure to treat it. Dentistry for children is not painful at all. At Admire Dental Bristol, CT, we ensure that every procedure is not traumatic to your kid. Most of our treatments are carried out in a dentist’s office, and if need be, we use anesthesia to prevent pain. We only opt for tooth extraction if there is no other choice, and it’s mandatory.