Pedodontics means Pediatric Dentistry. The pedodontist undertakes the treatment of all dental problems from the birth of the child to adolescence. In this context, both milk and permanent teeth, topical fluoride applicationand fissure sealants Prevention from caries, treatment of bruises, diagnosis and treatment of bad habits such as thumb sucking, lip sucking, wrong swallowing. From the 6th month when the child’s teeth begin to erupt, the pedodontist gives tooth brushing training to the parents and follows the child’s dental development with routine checks every 6 months.
What is topical fluoride application? Fluoride strengthens the enamel, protects the tooth against acid attacks and thus helps prevent the formation of dental caries. From the age of 3, fluoride gel in gel consistency is applied to all surfaces of the teeth twice a year by the dentist. It is a protective application that is very entertaining for children and reduces their fear of the dentist.
What is Fissure Sealant? Permanent first molars, which begin to erupt at the age of six, are very prone to decay due to their deep fissure structures. With the fissure sealant materials to be applied, these teeth will be protected from caries with a very high percentage of 95%. Fissure sealants can be applied to all permanent molars and premolars. The dentist checks whether the fissure sealants are still in place during the routine checks that he will make twice a year, and repeats the application if he deems it necessary.
Bottle Caries: Tooth decay is a disease as old as human history. It is also a disease of civilization. The main cause of tooth decay is a bacterium called Streptococcus mutans, which ferments the sugar in our food very quickly to form lactic acid. These acids break down tooth enamel and form caries. Studies show that when the child is born, there is no caries-causing bacteria in his mouth, but from the 6th month, this bacteria begins to colonize the hard tissues of the teeth. Do not forget that the biggest reason for the child to be infected with this bacterium is the mother, father, caregiver or other family members who are in very close contact with the child.
What should we do to prevent baby bottle rot?
Wipe your child’s teeth with a clean gauze pad every day from the day your child’s milk teeth start to erupt until they are about 1-1.5 years old.
Do not immerse the pacifier in sweet foods such as honey, jam, sugary water and give it to the child.
Do not put foods such as honey milk, sweetened milk, sweetened fruit juice in a bottle and do not give them to the child for a long time in contact with the child’s upper front teeth.
1- With a soft bristle brush produced for children aged 1.5 to 3 years, only twice a day. wetting the brush with waterBrush all surfaces of the teeth.
From the age of 3, brush your child’s teeth with special children’s toothpastes, preferably after breakfast and dinner, by putting a lentil-sized paste on the brush.
Visit your dentist regularly every 6 months
What is a placeholder appliance?
If a primary tooth is lost early due to caries, trauma or other reasons before it is time to fall out, this place should be protected until the permanent tooth erupts. Appliances made for this purpose are called placeholder appliances. Maintaining this distance will prevent the occurrence of much larger orthodontic problems that may arise in the future.
My child is still sucking his thumb at 5 years old, what can I do?
Thumb sucking is a very common physiological behavior in children. It is more common especially during night sleep and in children who have stopped the pacifier habit, and if it starts to become a habit, it starts to cause disorders in the teeth and jaws. The upper front teeth are pushed forward. A thumb sucking habit that continues after the age of four is not normal and requires precautions. Consultation with an orthodontist is required. Finger sucking habit is tried to be prevented with appliances called tongue holders.
My child grinds his teeth at night, how can I prevent it?
Teeth grinding is very common, especially in children with newly erupted milk teeth. It may increase with the presence of a sibling who has just joined the family at a later age, starting nursery or kindergarten, or other factors that cause stress for the child. If it is not in the size that will cause abrasions and joint discomfort on the teeth, it does not cause a problem to be feared. Consultation with a Pedodontist and Pediatrician is required.
