Pediatric Dentistry (Pedodontics)

Pediatric dentistry is a branch of dentistry that examines and addresses oral and dental health issues from birth to the end of adolescence. In dentistry, it’s defined as pedodontics. From the time children’s primary teeth emerge until the permanent teeth emerge, the dental system goes through various stages. During this period, it encompasses a variety of practices, including monitoring and preventing tooth eruption disorders, treating decay in primary and permanent teeth, protecting toothless areas resulting from premature tooth extraction with various appliances to prevent deterioration, and applying dentures to children born without teeth.

When do teeth erupt in children?

Children’s teeth begin to erupt around 6 months of age. This eruption period can last as long as 10-11 months for some children. There’s no need to worry too much. Children have a total of 20 baby teeth by the age of 3. This process, often met with anxiety by parents, is actually quite normal. Permanent teeth begin to appear in children around 6 years old. The number of adult teeth is usually reached by 12-13 years of age. When baby teeth begin to appear, many oral problems can occur. Symptoms such as increased drooling, loss of appetite, sleep disturbances, pain, fever, and an increased urge to bite are quite common in babies. To minimize these effects, it’s important to encourage your baby to chew. This involves massaging the gums and reducing the pressure. Therefore, it’s recommended that the chewed item be cold. Toys that will keep your baby entertained, such as a cold carrot or banana, or a rubber tooth ring, can be used. The key here is to ensure your baby is sitting upright and not left unattended during this time. Foods like yogurt and purees chilled in the refrigerator can soothe gums. When giving your baby lukewarm water, it’s best to give it slightly cooled from a bottle rather than lukewarm. Dental gels can be used after consulting a doctor. If these methods don’t work, painkillers containing paracetamol can be used.

What is Baby Bottle Tooth Decay?

Breast milk, formula milk, and formula, which play a significant role in babies’ nutrition, naturally contain sugar. During this period, families often add sugar or honey to their baby’s food to ensure better nutrition. If a baby is given breast milk or formula before going to sleep at night, the nutrients accumulate in the mouth and remain there for extended periods. The sugar content creates a favorable environment for tooth decay resulting from prolonged contact. Therefore, careful attention should be paid to the oral hygiene of babies who are given formula before bed . The best precaution for this is to provide babies with water before bed. To prevent bottle tooth decay:

• The baby should be prevented from sleeping with a bottle at night.
• Sweeteners such as sugar or honey should not be added to the food or milk.
• The dummy should not be dipped into substances such as honey or jam.
• After feeding, the baby’s mouth should be cleaned with a clean cloth.
• After feeding the baby, he/she should be given water to drink.

Taking children to the dentist

Taking children to the dentist for the first time is a significant step in life. Creating a comfortable environment for children in the clinic is crucial. A child-friendly play area should be provided. While it was previously considered appropriate to take children to the dentist after their primary teeth erupted, today, due to the early development of baby bottle tooth decay, it is now generally accepted that children’s first dental checkup should be around age one. This approach has been shown to prevent white coat phobia in children.

What procedures are performed on children by the dentist?

All necessary dental care for children is performed by a dentist. To ensure excellent oral and dental health in children, regular checkups with a pediatric dentist should be performed every six months. During these visits, any potential problems that could threaten oral and dental health can be identified. The most important factor here is early diagnosis and treatment. Early diagnosis of these problems in children is crucial for positively impacting their physical and emotional development.

During the initial examination of a child, good communication must be established between the child and parents. A medical and dental history must then be obtained. A clinical and radiographic examination should then be performed. Based on the findings, parents are informed about the child’s treatment plan. Pediatric dentists use various methods to protect children’s primary and permanent teeth from decay and periodontal disease . These include teaching children the concept of oral hygiene, teaching tooth brushing techniques, establishing a tooth brushing habit, applying systemic fluoride, and applying fissure sealants.

Fluoride treatments: Fluoride treatments, the most effective form of preventive dentistry, can be applied to healthy individuals, those prone to decay, those with tooth sensitivity and erosion, and those with systemic diseases requiring special care. These treatments are administered at intervals and rates determined by the individual’s age and risk of decay.

Fissure sealants: Anatomically, the chewing surfaces of molars contain indentations and protrusions where food can adhere. Tooth decay begins in areas that are difficult to clean. Fissure sealants shallow the surfaces in these areas, reducing food adhesion and creating a suitable surface for easier brushing. Following these procedures, tooth decay is reduced by 70-80%.