First visit
It is generally recommended that a child be seen by a dentist by the age of 1 or within 6 months after his or her first tooth comes in. This is important because:
- Caries can occur even in early childhood
- Early healthy habits should be established and bad ones should be avoided
The first visit is mainly about informing parents about issues, such as:
- Growth, eruption and importance of primary and permanent teeth
- Caring for teeth and mouth
- Nutrition and its relationship to the health of the teeth
- The ways to prevent caries and gum disease
- Oral habits (egthumb sucking, pacifiers) and how and when they should be interrupted
- First aid in case of teeth injury
The first check is discreet and playfully so that the child becomes familiar with the dentist and feels he has a pleasant experience.
But why is the health of young teeth so important?
- They maintain the required space for permanent teeth to erupt in the right position and in the right direction
- They contribute to the smooth growth of the jawbones and muscles
- They make it easier for the child to chew and articulate when he starts talking
- Possible appearance of caries often causes pain, fever and is of course a very unpleasant experience for the child
Very important is also the role of parents both before the first visit and before the next. They are the ones who prepare the ground so that the child can feel comfortable in the dental office without fear and stress. The best tactic is:
- We explain to the child that the dentist is a friend of ours and makes sure that we have healthy teeth
- We behave completely normally, otherwise we pass our anxiety on to the child
- We do not use phrases such as "do not fear," "it won’t hurt" etc. The child at these ages can’t focus on “nots”, instead he or she will focus oin "fear" and "hurt"
- We try to create a pleasant atmosphere before visit
The dentist has the knowledge, the skills and the training to develop a relationship of trust with the child from the very first visit. Dentist, parents and child should act as a team with impeccable cooperation!
Endodontic treatment
Primary teeth are smaller and have thinner enamel than the permanent ones. The nerves are even closer to the surface, making the teeth quite sensitive to caries. This is almost always the case with primary molars.
When the upper part of the nerves (not low in the roots) is infected, then we perform a kind of endodontic treatment called pulpotomy. It is a procedure specifically applied to children, because normal root canal treatment may make them nervous or scare them.
During pulpotomy, we remove the upper part of the nerve, since it is usually inflamed. Then we fillthe tooth with special material and keep the nerves alive at the bottom of the tooth.This saves the young tooth until it falls naturally.
For better protection, we can cover the tooth with a crown, which is removed when primary tooth is about to fall.
Maintaining the primary tooth is very important. Otherwise orthodontic problems may occur and a space maintainer will be necessary.
Many parents believe that caries in primary teeth are harmless, as they will fall. But in addition to the pain and swelling, caries in infants may also infect the erupting permanent teeth.
Child tooth decay occurs between 2 and 5 years of age. But it can be largely prevented if parents follow a series of instructions.
Consult with your dentist, who will advise you how to protect your child’s oral health.
Disabled people
Disabled people often suffer from dental problems because they have difficulty in taking care of their oral hygiene on a regular basis. These problems are added to the difficulties they already face and burden their everyday lives.
Dental care for people with disability must be a standard service, since it contributes to their effort to develop social skills.
The majority of disabled people is able to receive dental care at the clinic and thus avoid the use of general anesthesia. During the examination, the presence of the parents is necessary because the children are very afraid and have difficulty in trusting unknown persons. Dental treatment of disabled people is performed in the shortest possible time as they can’t stand long sessions.
The most important part is informing parents or escorts about prevention and oral hygiene. With appropriate procedures in the clinic and proper oral hygiene, children with disability will have the oral health they deserve.
Fillings
In case of tooth decay, the primary tooth is filled with special material that has a different composition than the one used in adults. The filling is made of composite resin and has a white color.
Sealants
When the first permanent molars erupt at the age of 6, we can protect them from caries by using coverings.
They are made with absolutely safe, resinous materials covering various natural holes or slits on the upper surfaces of the molars. Βy smoothing the surface, we ensure there are no longer pockets where bacteria could develop and cause tooth decay.
We do not need to remove dental tissue for the placement of sealants and of course we do not use a wheel.
We should regularly check the sealants and repeat the procedure for the second permanent molars when they erupt at around the age of 12.
Fluoridation
With fluoridation we protect children’s teeth from decay either preventively or therapeutically when the dental problem is not at an advanced stage.
We apply a fluoride directly to the children’s teeth in order to stop bacteria.
It is advisable to start preventively fluoridation at the age of 3-4 years and to repeat it at regular basis according to the needs of each child.
We also recommend fluoridation for the ages of 6 to 15 years, in order to early protect permanent teeth.
