DENTAL TREATMENT FOR KIDS

Why are milk teeth important?

Milk teeth or the primary teeth are very important to your child’s health and development. They help him/her chew, speak and smile. They also hold space in the jaws for permanent teeth that are growing beneath the gums. When a baby tooth is lost too early, the teeth can drift into the empty space and make it difficult for other permanent teeth to find room when they come in.

Therefore it is very important to take care of the milk teeth as it is to take care of the permanent teeth.

It is therefore necessary to get them into habit of brushing daily and keeping the teeth clean all the time. Kids should be taught and made to follow proper oral hygiene practices and get them acquainted to regular check-ups with the Dentists.

Besides these, certain preventive treatments can be done to protect the teeth from decay; like Pit and Fissure Sealants & Fluoride therapy.

Pit & Fissure Sealants

The newly erupted teeth have deep pits and grooves on its chewing surface. These causes the food to get stuck into it easily, making them difficult to clean. Hence the tooth is more vulnerable to decay.

Pit & fissure sealants are the materials placed in these deep grooves to fill them, creating a smooth surface which is easy to clean.

Such sealants are mainly used in children who are at a higher risk to tooth decay and are placed as soon as the permanent molars i.e. the permanent behind teeth, appear in the mouth.

Fluoride treatment

Tooth decay is caused by acid-producing bacteria that collect around the teeth and gums in a sticky, clear film called ‘plaque’. If proper oral hygiene is not maintained, the teeth become vulnerable to decay.

Therefore proper oral hygiene habits and regular dental visits are important for keeping the teeth healthy.

Another key to good oral health is Fluoride, a mineral that helps prevent decay and can repair teeth in the very early stage.

Usually our drinking water and toothpaste contain fluoride. But in children who are at higher risk of tooth decay, a professional fluoride treatment in the dental clinic is recommended.

How it is done?

Dentists provide professional fluoride treatments in the form of highly concentrated gel or varnish; which is applied to the tooth surface and allowed to stay for few minutes. This causes the outer surface of the tooth i.e. enamel to strengthen and help stop the decay from penetrating deeper.

The earlier the children are exposed to fluoride, the less likely they are to develop cavities.