Pediatric Dentistry

Pediatric dentistry is a specialized area of dentistry that requires an extra two years of training and deals specifically with children from a very young age to teenagers. Children’s dental requirements are different from those of adults and this branch of dentistry is geared specifically towards them.

The first teeth that we get are the primary teeth, or baby teeth. It is important that these are developed correctly to avoid dental problems later with their permanent teeth. The primary teeth are needed for proper chewing and eating but they also provide the space where the permanent teeth will go and will also guide the new permanent teeth into their final position. It is important that it is the correct position.

Correctly positioned teeth help maintain normal development of the jaw bones and muscles which lead to creating an attractive facial appearance.

Why have orthodontic treatment?

Teeth begin forming before birth and will eventually erupt through the gum (this is the teething process) between 4 and 8 months. The time varies between individual children. The first teeth to show through are the lower central incisors followed by the upper central incisors. A child will usually have all 20 primary teeth by the time they are three years old.

A child will begin to replace the primary teeth around the age of six years starting with the front four teeth. Cuspids and molars are replaced around the age of 10 – 13 years. This process will continue until approximately age 21 when they will have attained all 28 permanent teeth (or up to 32 if they grow their third molar – wisdom teeth).

Your pediatric dentist will explain how care should be taken with a child’s teeth from a very early age. The first dental appointment should be by their first birthday. The visit should be treated as a good experience to encourage further visits and increase the child’s knowledge of dental care.

Thumb sucking

Thumb sucking is a natural reflex that provides security. If thumb sucking continues beyond the eruption of the permanent teeth there is the possibility of improper growth of the mouth and alignment of the teeth. Vigorous thumb sucking will undoubtedly lead to dental problems later in life. Putting a pacifier in a child’s mouth is the same as putting a thumb in their mouth. Sucking should be discouraged at a very early age.

Children suck their thumbs because they are insecure. If your child is sucking its thumb, focus on finding and correcting the cause of the anxiety. Don’t scold your child for thumb sucking but rather, provide a reward for not sucking during a stressful time.

Children are often given a pacifier at bedtime to help them sleep. Sometimes they are given a baby bottle that not only provides the security of suckling but also nutrition. Feeding a child at nap time or bedtime can create serious tooth decay problems because the teeth have a long exposure to sugars in the liquid food. Foods that contain sugar are fruit juices, sweetened drinks, formula and milk, including breast milk.

At nap time and sleep time, the baby’s bottle should only contain water. When the baby sleeps, the sugary liquids will pool around the teeth creating a plaque that will attack and damage the tooth enamel. After each feeding, any sugary substance and plaque must be removed from the mouth using a damp washcloth or gauze pad.

Daily brushing

Daily brushing of a child’s teeth should begin soon after the eruption of the first tooth. By the time the child has reached the age of four, they should be old enough to brush their own teeth, under supervision, twice a day. Brushing should be supervised until about seven years of age.

It is important to ensure that your child’s dental needs are being met. Pediatric dentistry can identify any developing malocclusions or bad bites from an early age reducing the need for orthodontic treatment at a later age.

Consult your dentist about the correct care for your child.