Paediatric Dentistry
Paediatric Dentistry
development of caries and orthodontic deformations.
Deciduous teeth are the ones that appear first. Not only do they take part in mastication, but they also secure the development and growth of the jaws. These temporary teeth are less mineralized, and caries develops faster and deeper. This gives us less reaction time for in order to get the process under control at an earlier stage. Parents very often think there is no need to treat their children’s deciduous teeth but they are wrong. If caries goes deeper, it could cause various complications, such as pulpitis, periodontitis, and gangrene. These problems could lead to an eating disorder, pain, bad breath, earlier falling out of the primary teeth, incorrect jaw growth, and anomalous eruption of the permanent teeth.
That is why regular check-ups prevent early development of caries and complications as well as orthodontic problems.
Every child should have her or his first dental examination around the time of the eruption of the first deciduous tooth – at the age of 6 months. Then it can be determined how many teeth have erupted and what their condition is, and the parents can receive instructions about their child’s oral hygiene and eating habits.
All deciduous teeth should erupt till the age of two-and-a-half. After this age, the child should have dental check-ups every 6 months.
If caries goes deeper, the treatment becomes more complicated and takes longer, and children do not always accept it easily. They are often afraid and disincentivized.
Certain criteria are observed at every examination in order to avoid complications at each respective age. At the age of 3 children should already have all of their deciduous teeth. Dentists observe their oral hygiene and warn against bad habits that may later cause orthodontic defects.
At the age of 6, the child’s first permanent teeth erupt. Very often, parents are unaware that their child already has permanent teeth. During the dental check-ups at the age of 6 permanent teeth should be silanized in order to reduce the risk of caries. Dental sealants are special flowable resins which can solidify under blue light, and look like photopolymer fillings. They are applied on the masticatory surface of the teeth where the so called fissures and pits are located deep into the tooth enamel making them difficult to clean from food debris and bacteria.
Most often, it is the lower and the upper sixth teeth as well as the seventh teeth that are subject to sinalization. Oftentimes, the upper incisors erupt through deep pits situated on the site of the palate. Premolars could be silanized, too, if the dentist decides that this is necessary. During the examination, the dentist assesses the fissures and the amount of plaque. The dentist also examines the permanent and temporary teeth for caries, and decides whether silanization is needed.
Dental sealants are worn out with time as they can survive on the masticatory surface from 3 to 5 years. This can be easily established by the child or the parent as the colour of the sealant is made to stand out against the background of dental structures. Thus, its wearing out can be easily spotted, and it becomes clear if there is a need for a second application of a sealant. It is recommended that the child see a dentist every 6 months or at least once a year. This way the dentist will be able to follow the condition of the sealant.
Modern sealants are characterized by extremely high fluorine separation that provides purposive protection for the respective teeth. While it is in contact with the tooth, such a sealant helps for the remineralization of the fissures making them more resistant to dental caries.
Scientific research confirms that if silanization is carried out soon after the permanent molars have appeared, and if the sealant is placed correctly, it is 100% efficient in protecting the tooth surfaces from caries.