Pedodontics
What is Pedodontics?
Dentists who perform all kinds of treatment and preventive dentistry procedures applied to children and who have received special training in this field are called pedodontists (pediatric dentists) and this branch of dentistry is called pedodontics.
A- Treatment of Formed Problems
It is possible to prevent cavities in children with a careful diet (avoiding sticky and sugary foods as much as possible and following healthy eating rules) and proper tooth brushing techniques. When a cavity occurs, the cause should be identified and the health of the child’s other teeth should be protected.
The decayed part of the tooth is cleaned and treated with a permanent or temporary filling depending on the situation. In some cases, the tooth is so damaged that it cannot be treated with a filling. Such teeth can sometimes be kept in the mouth for a while by covering them with ‘caps’ specially prepared for children instead of being extracted. In recent years, colored fillings have been produced to make children love the dentist and going to the dentist. Thanks to these materials, which are also used in our clinic, filling becomes a game.
Children often fall or bump into each other. As a result, they damage their front teeth, resulting in problems that will bother them for years or require frequent visits to the dentist. A simple mouthguard from your dentist can prevent the damage caused by trauma to the lower part of the face. Especially in children who play sports such as football, boxing, skiing, basketball, cycling, rollerblade, surfing, skateboarding, etc., a transparent silicone mouthguard worn over the upper jaw teeth acts as a cushion, preventing tooth trauma, fractures or lip and tongue biting and tearing.
Put the tooth between a clean gauze pad, moisten it with saliva and go to your dentist immediately. If you cannot reach your dentist immediately, moisten the gauze with saline from the pharmacy and try to reach him/her as soon as possible. Ideally, treatment should be started within 1 hour. If the conditions are suitable, your dentist will replace the erupted tooth (reimplantation). With meticulous treatment and good aftercare, the tooth will remain in your child’s mouth for years.
In some cases, the decay progresses to the living (nerve-pulp) part of the inner part of the tooth. There is an inflammatory condition that reaches the roots of the teeth. The child’s face swells, there is severe pain and it is not healthy for the child to keep the tooth in the mouth. In this case, the tooth is removed. Especially if it is a deciduous tooth and the eruption of the permanent tooth below is imminent.
Bacterial plaque (whitish, sticky layer of food residues and microorganisms) on the teeth should be cleaned and removed by the dentist if it has accumulated so much that it cannot be removed by normal brushing.
B- Preventive Dentistry Applied to Prevent Problems from Occurring
Complete dental care is only possible with complete information. Hygiene education, which includes teaching tooth brushing and flossing, reviewing eating habits and explaining the importance of oral and dental health, ensures that there is no missing information. This education is as important for adults as it is for children.
Fluorine is a mineral that strengthens tooth enamel and makes it resistant to decay. Regular fluoride applications are made to protect the health of children’s teeth.
Pits and indentations on the chewing surfaces of the teeth are favorable areas for the formation of caries. A special filling material called fissure sealant is applied to these areas to prevent decay.
It is used to protect or fill the cavity until permanent teeth replace the prematurely lost deciduous teeth.
It is beneficial to take your children to a pedodontist regularly for their dental health. This is important to ensure that children have healthy mouths and teeth.