Instilling good oral hygiene in children right from a young age is important. It is essential to establish a positive relationship between your child and the dentist. Early oral hygiene habits will develop strong teeth and gums of the child throughout life.
Dr. Taylor’s Family Dental Center and team strive to create a friendly environment for their young patients. They provide relaxing, compassionate pediatric dentistry for every child.
An insight into pediatric dentistry
Pediatric dentistry, also known as pedodontics, is a branch of dentistry that deals with the evaluation and management of dental problems in children. It focuses on the maintenance and improvement of oral health in children.
You must begin assessing your child’s oral health the moment their first tooth arrives and continue caring for their teeth as they grow.
Importance of pediatric dentistry
When oral health is neglected the body suffers and your child is unable to eat or drink anything, leading to nutritional deficiencies.
Caring for baby teeth is crucial since they pave the way for permanent teeth and form a foundation that needs to be strong. Patient education and decay prevention are the top priorities of pediatric dentistry.
It also helps reduce anxiety and stress among young children by providing a relaxing environment, which instills a positive attitude towards dentists and dental procedures in the future.
Furthermore, dental issues are detected early that can be treated effectively to prevent future complications.
Treatments included in pediatric dentistry
Depending on your child’s age and oral health needs, some of the common pediatric services include:
- X-rays
- Dental X-rays help detect any underlying decay or other problems from the permanent teeth (such as abscesses) that haven’t erupted.
- Teeth cleaning
- Special dental tools are used to gently remove any debris or plaque from the tooth surface.
- Your child would be advised to visit the dentist every 6 months for maintenance.
- Dental sealants
- Teeth that are susceptible to caries are sealed with a protective material (sealant) to prevent plaque and bacteria from harming the enamel layer.
- Fillings
- Dentists can effectively restore the child’s tooth with either traditional metal fillings or tooth-colored fillings.
Takeaway
Pediatric dentistry specialists are well-trained to handle young children to ease their anxiety. They also help create a calm, and relaxing environment, and ensure young patients develop a healthy relationship with dental care.