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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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