CHILDREN IN THE DENTAL OFFICE
Probably most of us remember their childhood reactions to the dentist and the dentist’s office. Early unpleasant memories may have a severe effect on the children’s psyche and affect their development, therefore, children need to offered much care and attention. At present, dental practices offer a variety of choices to allow the child a pleasant and stressless adaptation, including dentist role play and an interesting prize and gift at the end of the visit. Such adaptation visits are considered the best way for children to adapt to the dental office and the resulting painless treatment. The most important issue that arises when discussing children’s oral care is the prevention of dental diseases, prophylaxis. Therefore, every child should be under constant dental care.
THE FIRST TOOTH
The child’s first dental visit should take place quite early. It is recommended for children as young as 6 months up to 1 year of age, after the primary teeth eruption. The visit allows to check the proper progress in the development of the face and oral cavity and to guide the parents on the diet of the infant and proper primary teeth care. Lack of primary teeth during this time, or their premature eruption should not be underestimated, and should also be consulted with the dentist.
TODDLER
Parents should wash the child’s gums with the use of an oral wipe soaked with water or camomile extract and rub them with a special finger rubber brush. From the first tooth on, special, age-appropriate toothbrushes should be used. The parents should brush their child’s teeth up to 6 years of age, and during this time encourage to individual brushing, preferably through play.
A special toothpaste with reduced fluorine amounts (up to 500 ppm) should be used for cleaning primary teeth. Toothpastes with no distinctive flavour are best, since then the child will not swallow toothpaste excess.
A child at the toddler age should visit the dentist regularly. In the case when no caries is found, fluoride varnishing is recommended every 6 months with a fluoride formulation specially designed for children. The formula has a nice smell and a nice yellow colour. The treatment is painless and may be a good start in becoming acquainted with the dentist office. If, however, caries is found, the primary task is to cure all threatened teeth before the varnishing treatment, which should then be repeated at 4 month intervals.
JUNIOR
At 6 years, the first permanent teeth erupt (first molars). They require special care as they are not preceded by primary teeth and may be overlooked by parents. These are the teeth that are likely to be the first ones attacked by caries. Of all the permanent teeth, the first molars are the ones that are lost first. The best solution to prevent this is to coat deep fissures on the tooth’s surface with light –cured fluoride releasing sealants. This is done after a thorough teeth cleaning procedure performed by the dentist or dental hygienist and is completely painless just like the fluoride treatment. Sealed teeth require regular dental check –up to control the sealant. Proper dental prevention of primary and permanent teeth is beneficial later in life. It prevents additional stress, and is much cheaper than a dental treatment would be. If, however, caries develops, modern clinics offer a wide range of possibilities.
PRIMARY TEETH TREATMENT
Proper dental prevention of primary and permanent teeth is beneficial later in life. It prevents additional stress, and is much cheaper than dental treatment would be. Caries development is not yet a reason to panic, but an urgent reason to make an appointment at your dentist. Modern dental offices offer a wide range of painless treatments, and the gentle and sensitive medical care combined with the latest caries treatments allow to avoid any discomfort in the child during the visit. Primary, or milk teeth, may be attacked by caries just like permanent teeth. If not treated, caries may lead to unpleasant and painful pulpitis.
SILVER NITRATE TREATMENT
The first painless treatment choice in the cases of large cavities is the silver nitrate treatment, or lapis impregnation. It is conducted by covering the cavity with a silver nitrate compound. The procedure should be repeated 3 times. The main drawback of the method, however, is that it discolours the treated teeth to black. Sometimes front teeth require additional spacing before the impregnation.
DENTAL SURGERY
During the child’s development oral injuries often occur, mostly during various sports activities. After each injury, the child should be carefully diagnosed by a dentist. In case where no teeth displacement has occurred, observation and increased oral hygiene are recommended (with chamomile mouth rinses and hydrogen peroxide). If, however, milk teeth have been displaced, a teeth extraction should be considered. Several other reasons for primary teeth extractions include their increased mobility due to the eruption of an underlying permanent tooth, permanent teeth erupting next to primary teeth, or inflammation or purulent fistula not prone to other treatment methods. The child’s oral and primary teeth health has a major effect on the proper development of permanent teeth. The buds of the permanent teeth are placed close to the roots of primary teeth. Thus, if there is any inflammation in the primary tooth, it may lead to serious disorders in the development of the permanent tooth.
ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT
It is crucial that the milk teeth remain healthy or be treated successfully until they are replaced by permanent teeth. Premature extraction may lead to bite disorders such as crowding, misalignment or tooth retention. The first visit at the orthodontist should take place when the child is approximately three years old, when all primary teeth have erupted. Functional appliances may be used from the age of four. However, if there is no malocclusion at this stage, the next visit is required when all the central and lateral incisors have erupted, that is when the child is about 8 years of age. If those teeth do not erupt, a panoramic dental image should be taken to assess the state of the oral cavity and teeth buds. Oral health care in a small child will have a positive impact on its future. Proper oral hygiene, control check – ups, painless treatments will make the children grateful patients with beautiful smiles.
TWINKY STAR – COLOURED DENTAL FILLINGS
These special dental fillings allow the little patients to enjoy the visit at the dentist. Twinky Star is a modern coloured restorative, and comes in 7 colours. Twinky Star, with its 7 glittery colours will spark the interest of little children, and the glossy glitter will delight them. The decision of what colour the filling should be – Gold, Silver, Blue, Rose, Green, Orange and Lemon – will increase the willingness of the little patients to cooperate by including them in the treatment process. Twinky Star is trendy, therefore it is readily accepted by children.