Pediatric Dentistry is a branch of science that aims to protect the milk and permanent teeth of children aged 0-13 in a healthy manner, and to eliminate the problems caused by caries, trauma, hereditary and similar factors.
In this period, pedodontists carry out all kinds of preventive and curative treatments and preventive applications according to the oral and dental health needs of babies, children and young people.
What are the differences between the practices of Pediatric Dentistry (Pedodontics) and adult dentistry?
In pediatric dentistry, the pedodontist approaches their patients in a different way than adults. During all the preventive or therapeutic processes, the most valuable issue is the treatment of patients without worry, pain and trouble. In addition to healthy children, children with different diseases and roughnesses such as heart disease, mental retardation, cerebral palsy are also treated by pedodontists. These patients, who require special care and attention, have to be treated under sedation or general anesthesia in many cases.
What issues does Pediatric Dentistry (Pedodontics) deal with?
Pediatric Dentistry (Pedodontics); It deals with the oral and dental health problems of all children from birth to adolescence. In addition, facial and jaw development and problems are followed and treated in the pedodontics clinic.
pediatric dentist;
To educate children and their parents about oral and dental health,
Helping to gain healthy eating habits,
Educating parents to prevent early childhood caries seen in children 71 months and younger, known as bottle caries,
How is fluoride application done in the pedodontics unit?
Fluoride is a precious and necessary mineral for dental health, and its deficiency causes an increase in the formation of caries in the teeth. It is applied to the tooth surfaces by applying varnish every 4-6 months by a specialist dentist. Since it is not taken systemically in tablet form and is applied locally, it does not cause a negative effect on the health of children. When applied to the tooth surface, it dries in a short time and hardens.
To carry out placeholder applications that prevent tooth slippage with the aim of protecting the gaps that arise due to prematurely falling teeth or essential extractions for the emergence of permanent teeth,
Treatments for loss, fractures, cracks in teeth caused by trauma,
The process of re-gluing the modules torn from the tooth,
What Are Appliances Good For?
The apparatus is a procedure used in orthodontic treatments and is an apparatus fixed inside the mouth. In general, appliances are used to straighten the teeth and to keep the mouth structure healthy.
Filling, root canal treatment and veneer applications for caries in children’s milk and permanent teeth,
Applications called amputation when necessary and known as small root canal treatment in the middle of the public,
Tooth extraction in cases where it is not possible to save the tooth in advanced caries, including tooth roots,
To make necessary applications to prevent orthodontic problems,
Orthodontic treatments such as braces, clear aligners,
Treatment of hereditary mouth, teeth and jaw related problems,
Night plaque application for the treatment of teeth clenching and grinding that can be seen in children,
It specializes in performing processes for the treatment of gum diseases.
When should children be taken to the dentist?
There is no specific period for taking children for a dental check-up. However, the most ideal time interval is the 6-month period after the eruption of the teeth. In order to prevent dental and gingival problems, necessary care and treatment should be done at these ages.
Importance of Milk Teeth
There are 20 milk teeth in total. The primary task of milk teeth is to provide nutrition to the child. In addition, the proper development of speech also depends on the presence of milk teeth. Milk teeth protect the area they cover for the permanent tooth that will replace them and guide it while the permanent tooth is erupting. When the primary tooth is pulled out early, this natural place-holding function disappears.
The primary goal of pediatric dentistry is to take measures to prevent dental problems and to guide children to a caries-free future. The processes applied for this purpose are called Preventive Dentistry Practices.
When do children’s permanent teeth begin to erupt?
Teeth that start with the first molar from 5-6 years of age and grow until the age of 20 and will remain in the mouth for a lifetime are called permanent teeth. It is often thought of as a milk tooth by the parents. Then, at the age of 6-7, the front incisors in the lower jaw fall out and permanent teeth emerge. At the age of 9-10, the lateral milk teeth (molars) begin to fall out. At the age of 9-10, the first premolars, and at the age of 10-11, the second premolars. At the age of 12, the canine (canine) teeth are also completed. In the middle of the age of 17-25, the third molar teeth, also called the 20-year-old-mental tooth, come out.
