What is Pediatric Dentistry ?
Pediatric Dentistry is a branch of Dentistry that deals with diagnosis, treatment and prevention of oral diseases among the children. The age group that comes under the purview of begins from infants up to 14 years of age group. The dental specialist specialized in Pediatric Dentistry is called as a Pedodontist or Pediatric Dentist. Their expertise include behavior management in children, which enables for smooth conduct and co-operation during dental treatment.
When to begin ?
The answer to that is in infancy. Yes, it is imperative to ensure oral healthcare from as early as possible. Before the milk teeth erupt it is advisable to clean the gums with a damp gauze. The damp gauze piece is to be wrapped around the parents’ finger and gently moved over the gums of the child. The first dental visit of a child should be within one year of age and regular dental visits should be continued thereafter.
Why go to a pediatric dentist ?
The oral structures of children differ a lot from adults. The small size of the mouth would require the use of a smaller toothbrush. The soft gums and developing teeth would necessitate the want of soft bristles. A pediatric dentist would provide the best guidance in this respect.
The dentist would best identify any anomalies at an early stage and help rectify them to prevent further complications.
Children should be given more of good nutritious food and less of sugar sand sticky foods a guide from the dentist regarding nutrition is extremely beneficial.
Visits of a child to the dentist should be treated as a fun and adventurous day rather than having a child be scared of the dentist.
Just because the milk teeth shall eventually fall off and be replaced by permanent teeth does not mean that we neglect care. The milk teeth and the child’s oral health play a very important role in the development of the child’s mouth. Cavities and decays in the milk teeth can affect their successors. Pediatric dentistry plays an indispensable part in ensuring happy smiles in the future.
Article by: Dr. Shweta Vilvadrinath
(Edited by: Editor DCO)
