As soon as your child gets his first tooth, you should begin cleaning his teeth and gums after feedings with a moist gauze pad or washcloth. As your child grows, floss his or her teeth, and pay attention to areas where the teeth are close together.
Pediatric dentistry begins as soon as the first tooth appears. Even before an infant is old enough to use a toothbrush, parents should clean childs teeth.
Flossing
Flossing keeps gums and teeth healthy by getting to plaque that a toothbrush cannot reach.
Space maintainers
The premature loss of a baby tooth can cause a loss of space in the dental arch. Space maintainers are used in pediatric dentistry to prevent this from happening. It takes two appointments (usually) to make space maintainer.
Disclosing tablets: Expose the plaque!
Plaque is the primary cause of cavities and gum disease. It is almost impossible to see plaque. Disclosing tablets, which are made from harmless vegetable dye, are used by dentists to stain the teeth bright red so the plaque can be easily seen and removed.
Repair of fractured anterior teeth
A fractured tooth is one of the most traumatic experiences a child can suffer. New bonding techniques and materials used in pediatric dentistry now allow dentists to restore teeth to nearly new condition.
Braces
Braces can make it very difficult for children to remove all of the plaque from their teeth. It is necessary to use a soft toothbrush with fluoride toothpaste and brush rigorously in a circular pattern after each meal.
Ankylosis
When a primary tooth loses its normal ligament connection to the bone, it becomes fused directly to the bone. This is often seen with lower first molars. If you notice this with your child, schedule a visit to a dentist at once.
Stainless steel crowns
Stainless steel crowns are used in pediatric dentistry to repair primary teeth that have been damaged by large cavities. They are much less expensive than porcelain crowns and can be placed in one visit.
Filling procedure
A rubber dam is first placed in the mouth. It is made from a stretchy, rubbery material that acts like a safety net in the back of the mouth. It prevents debris from falling back into the childs throat.
The dentist then removes the decay and shapes the tooth with the handpiece. He or she mold the filling to the shape of the tooth and presses it into its surface.
Cavities
Cavities caused by plaque are quite possibly the biggest problem that growing children face. Dental hygiene and regular trips to the dentist are the best insurance against rampant tooth decay, pain, and alignment problems that can result from teeth that are allowed to decay past a certain point.
Pulpectomy
This is the pediatric dentistry of a root canal in an adult tooth. It removes the infected nerve and fills the decayed area with bonding material.
This procedure is somewhat less intensive than a pulpectomy. It involves the removal of only the irritated portion of the pulp and leaves the healthy root canals intact.
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