Pediatric dentistry is a specialized branch that specifically deals with the oral health of children and adolescents. Specialist dentists in this branch undergo a three-year specialized course in pediatric dentistry to acquire the necessary skills to treat children’s oral and dental problems. According to an emergency pediatric dentist in Oakville, pediatric dental specialists train parents about cleaning their baby’s teeth, brushing, and flossing. They also provide parents with tips on proper nutrition and the use of certain medications, such as iron drops, and advice on the child’s habits, such as using a pacifier or thumb sucking.
Education Related to Oral and Dental Health
Children’s dentists deal with patients who have newly erupted teeth, so their primary emphasis is on providing the necessary education regarding oral and dental health. These educational services are provided not only to children but also to their parents to lead to maintaining oral health in the best way.
These trainings aim to create healthy habits in children during their growth from childhood to adolescence and older ages. For example, a pediatric dentist guides patients on brushing and flossing methods. He also advises on proper nutrition and diet.
Diagnosis and Prevention
Children are usually exposed to tooth decay because it is difficult to clean teeth in young children. In this regard, the pediatric dentist provides basic preventive services such as teeth cleaning. He may also provide specialized services such as fissure sealant or fluoride treatment to prevent tooth decay. In addition, it identifies the problems that the patient may face in the future and suggests appropriate treatment solutions.
Specialized Treatments
A pediatric dentist provides appropriate treatment methods for many children’s dental and mouth problems and diseases. For example, we can mention tooth filling and caries repair, tooth extraction, broken tooth repair, and root treatment (pulpotomy, pulpectomy).
Also, in special circumstances, for children who have physical and mental disabilities or children who have severe fear and anxiety due to their young age and do not cooperate with their doctor, they suggest the method of treatment under anesthesia.
The Best Age for a Child to Visit a Pediatric Dentist
Paying attention to the child’s age when going to the dentist is very important. Because baby teeth grow from 4 to 18 months, and usually, a complete set of 20 of them have grown by 2 to 3 years. From the day a child’s first tooth erupts, parents’ duty to protect teeth against decay begins. From this time, the child’s teeth should be washed regularly, and get to know the pediatric dentist.
Baby teeth are not permanent and start to fall out after 6 years. But the noteworthy point is that these teeth are very important, like permanent teeth, and they are effective in the growth of permanent teeth. If you do not visit a pediatric dentist regularly, plaque formation in these grooves and dental spaces is possible. If left untreated, many problems, such as tooth infection and gingivitis, will occur, which may lead to irreparable results.