Are you looking for a Pediatric Dentist near you?Word of mouth from a patient is probably your best chance of getting a great Pediatric dentist .

Who Is A Pediatric Dentist?

A pediatric dentist specializes in the treatment of children from infancy through early adulthood and special needs patients.
After receiving their dental degree, they spend an extra 3 years in a training program specifically designed to train them on how to manage children and those with special needs.
Children are not just small adults! Their teeth, brains, physiology, and temperament are very different from adults and pediatric dentists are trained to manage all of those differences.

Why Are Baby Teeth So Important?

Primary, or “baby,” teeth are important for many reasons. Not only do they help children speak clearly and chew naturally, they also aid in forming a path that permanent teeth can follow when they are ready to erupt. When do the Primary Teeth Develop & Erupt?
Primary teeth begin developing between the 6th and 8th week of fetal development. The permanent teeth have begun to form by the 20th week of fetal development. The first primary teeth to erupt are usually the lower central incisors around 6 months of age. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a child’s first dental visit be within 6 months of the eruption of the first tooth or by 1 year of age. All 20 baby teeth usually erupt by 3 years of age. Exact sequence of eruption varies slightly depending on the child. All 20 baby teeth will be replaced by a permanent successor.

The permanent teeth begin to erupt around 6 years of age. The first teeth to erupt are usually the 6 year molars (1st molars) and the lower central incisors. The full permanent dentition is 32 teeth, which includes the wisdom teeth (3rd molars).

How Can I Help My Child in a Dental Emergency?

Toothache:
First, rinse the mouth or affected area with warm salt water. If the face is swollen place a cold compress on the area and call your pediatric dentist immediately. Give Paracetamol or Ibuprofen for pain and see a dentist as soon as possible.

Cut or Bitten Tongue, Lip or Cheek:
Quickly apply ice to the affected area to help with swelling. Try to control bleeding by applying firm pressure to the affected area. If simple pressure does not control bleeding, it is important to see a doctor or visit the hospital emergency room.

Knocked Out Permanent Tooth:
Quickly try and find the tooth. Rinse the tooth with water and try to handle the crown, not the root, of the tooth. DO NOT clean off any tissue that may be still attached to the root. If the tooth does not appear to be fractured and the child is cooperative, try and reinsert the tooth into the socket. Have the child bite on a washcloth or gauze to hold it in place. The tooth can also be transported in “Save a Tooth” solution, child’s own saliva, or milk. Time is critical. The child must see a dentist very quickly for the most favorable outcome.

Knocked Out Baby Tooth:
This is usually not an immediate emergency and examination can be delayed until normal business hours. Usually, no treatment is necessary.

Broken, Chipped or Fractured Permanent Tooth:
Contact your pediatric dentist as soon as possible. Early treatment can prevent infection and reduce the need for extensive dental treatment. Sometimes the fractured tooth can be reattached. If possible, save the fractured piece and bring it in to the dentist.

Chipped or Fractured Primary Tooth:
This is usually not an immediate emergency. Contact your pediatric dentist to schedule an evaluation of the affected area.

Severe Head Injury and/or Possible Broken or Fractured Jaw:
Keep the jaw stable and visit the nearest emergency room immediately.

What is Pulp Therapy / Nerve Treatment?
The pulp (nerve) is the most center part of the tooth. It contains blood vessels, nerves and reparative cells. When the cavity of a tooth is into the nerve or, sometimes even when it is close to the nerve, a “pulpotomy” (nerve treatment) must be completed to maintain the vitality of the tooth. Sometimes, a “pulpectomy” is performed and this is just a more extensive version of the pulpotomy. Either treatment is an effort to maintain the tooth as long as possible.

Once the affected nerve tissue is removed, an antibacterial agent is placed to prevent bacterial growth and calm the nerve tissue. The nerve treatment is followed by a permanent restoration, which is usually a stainless steel crown.

What is the Best Time for Orthodontic Treatment?
Pediatric dentists are trained to recognize possible issues with the developing dentition. Early treatment can prevent more extensive dental problems in the future. Some dental malocclusions (bad bites) can be recognized as early as 2-3 years old.

Children have 3 different phases of tooth development. The first phase is all primary (baby) teeth from 2-6 years old. During this time in a child’s life we are concerned with underdeveloped dental arches, premature loss of primary teeth, and harmful habits such as finger or thumb sucking. Treatment initiated during this phase can have great results and may in some cases prevent need for future orthodontic treatment.

The second phase is called “mixed dentition” and this happens from around 6-12 years of age. This phase has both permanent and primary teeth and begins when the 6 year molars and lower central incisors begin to erupt. Treatment concerns and goals during this time of a child’s life are directed at correcting jaw relationships by redirecting growth and aligning teeth that are excessively out of place. When indicated, treatment during this phase is very successful because the hard and soft tissues are very responsive to orthodontic movement.

The last phase of a child’s dentition is when all adult teeth are present and this is when we make the final decision as to whether or not the child would benefit from orthodontic treatment.

Author :Dr.Amrita Pal

About Dr. Amrita Pal (BDS,MDS-Pediatric Dentistry)
I am a Pediatric as well as General dental surgeon by profession, previously attached to Medical College.

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