Pedodontics & Preventive Dentistry
Child Dentistry
It is specific for infants and children up to 12 years of age
Indications
- Pain in the milk teeth
- Fracture of milk teeth due to trauma
- Malaligned teeth
- Harmful habits like thumb sucking, nail biting, tongue thrusting, lip biting, mouth breathing etc.
- Grossly destructed children teeth which may/may not be associated with swelling.
Procedure
In children, same treatment procedures as adults are followed with minor variations.
In case of tooth pain and swelling, a procedure similar to root canal is performed, called pulpectomy, wherein the canals are cleaned and filled with a resorbable material leading to reduction in pain and infection. This is followed by placement of a stainless steel crown.
Children have a high tendency to fracture their front teeth while playing. In case the tooth comes out, the child should be taken immediately to the dentist along with the tooth which could be splinted back into the child’s mouth.
In case of fractured and decayed teeth, the tooth is filled with appropriate material, followed by a crown for protecting the remaining tooth structure.
In case of malaligned teeth, orthodontic treatment is instituted.
In case of harmful habits, habit breaking appliances are given which help to reduce the habit.
Fluorides
Indications
- Newly erupted permanent teeth in young children
- Teeth with deep and narrow grooves
- Teeth with minimal or no decay
- Patients having high propensity for tooth decay
Procedure
Fluorides are the gold standard in anti – dental decay agents. After all the teeth are cleaned, fluoride application is done.
The patient is made to sit upright and the area in which fluoride application is to be done is dried.
The fluoride gel is dispensed in a disposable tray, which is seated over the teeth in concern. Generally two trays are used, one for the upper and one for the lower arch.
The trays are kept in place for 2 minutes and the patient is asked to bite down on them.
The trays are then removed and the patient is asked to spit all the residual gel. It is advisable not to eat or drink anything for the next half an hour.
Pit and Fissure Sealants
Indications
- Newly erupted teeth
- Teeth with minimal or no decay
- Teeth with deep and narrow grooves
- Poor oral hygiene
- In case of developmental defects where tooth structure is weakened
- When Orthodontic appliances are used
Procedure
Sealant is a protective coating applied on the tooth to prevent decay or restrict its progression.
The area in which the sealant is to be applied is cleaned and dried thoroughly.
The tooth surface is roughened by means of an acid solution.
The liquid sealant is then coated and made to flow over the grooves.
It usually hardens in a minute and the patient is advised not to consume any food for an hour.