Pediatric Dentistry
We Care About Your Child!
Pediatric dentistry is the branch of dentistry concerned with the diseases of children’s teeth and oral cavity, as well as their prevention. Many are unaware that pediatric dentistry is far more significant than it may first appear, since dental treatments performed in childhood largely determine the child’s lifelong relationship with oral health and with dental care itself.
The Importance of Primary Teeth
Primary teeth play a crucial role in the development of proper occlusion and mastication, as well as in the correct formation of speech sounds. In addition, they serve as space maintainers for the permanent teeth. Through proper nutrition and the early adoption of correct oral hygiene techniques, children can acquire lifelong habits that provide health benefits extending far beyond childhood.
Preventive Care in Young Children
Prevention plays a fundamental role in dental care. The goal of preventive dentistry is to avoid oral and dental diseases before they develop.
Children’s teeth are initially healthy. For this reason, it is important that parents take their children to the dentist 3–4 times a year starting as early as 2–3 years of age. This has multiple benefits:
- Larger dental problems can be safely avoided through regular checkups.
- Visiting the dentist becomes a routine activity for the child, establishing a healthy preventive attitude that carries over into adulthood.
Treatment of Primary Teeth
Many parents mistakenly believe that caries in primary teeth is only a temporary issue, since these teeth will eventually fall out. This is incorrect reasoning: carious primary teeth can cause pain, and premature tooth loss may negatively affect the alignment of erupting permanent teeth.
The structure of primary teeth differs from that of permanent teeth: the pulp chambers are larger, while the enamel layer is thinner. As a result, caries progresses more rapidly in primary teeth, although the symptoms (including pain) are similar to those of permanent teeth.
During the restoration of a primary tooth, the carious tissue is removed by drilling, leaving a clean surface that can be easily restored. The cavity is then filled with a special filling material, glass ionomer cement (GIC). A major advantage of this material is that it acts as a fluoride reservoir, protecting the tooth until exfoliation, since the filling must last for the entire lifespan of the primary tooth.
Fissure Sealants – For the Prevention of Childhood Caries
Dental fissure sealing is a simple, quick, inexpensive, aesthetic, and painless technique used to prevent occlusal caries of the molars and premolars. The procedure is relatively straightforward, taking only a few minutes per tooth, and is not burdensome for the child. By sealing the occlusal fissures, food debris cannot become trapped in the grooves, thereby making it more difficult for caries to develop on these surfaces.
The treatment can be performed between the ages of 6 and 18 years. At semi-annual check-ups, it is always recommended to seal the fissures of newly erupted teeth, as well as to regularly monitor and, if necessary, replace existing fissure sealants. This procedure can partially prevent, and significantly reduce, the incidence of childhood dental caries.