Pediatric dentistry and dental prevention.
Pediatric dentistry is the area of dentistry that deals with the dental care of children and adolescents. The dentist’s role is to establish a reassuring and accessible rapport with the child patient, in order to adequately explain the treatment being carried out.
Children’s oral hygiene is just as important as that of adults. This is because children are susceptible to the same pathologies: decay, pulpitis, abscess, trauma, dental misalignments etc. Any course of an infection, or even premature loss of baby teeth, can lead to complications. This is because baby teeth:
- save the space for the permanent teeth
- encourage correct development of the maxillofacial structures
- encourage mineralisation of the permanent teeth
- play an essential role in phonation
- are important for good nutrition.
Treatments for temporary milk teeth are almost the same as those for permanent teeth.
Prevention plays a key role in pediatric dentistry because it prevents, or minimizes, the need for dental procedures. Prevention measures for children consist of instruction on good brushing techniques and sealing fissures. Good oral hygiene is essential in preventing the accumulation of bacterial plaque (biofilm), which is responsible for the formation of cavities. A protective varnish is applied to the occlusal grooves of the permanent molars, in a pain-free manner, to prevent the risk of caries. Depending on the child’s age, the use of fluoride also provides additional protection against tooth decay.
A check-up appointment every 6 months is highly recommended.