Oral and Dental Health in Children

The first aim of pedodontics is to solve the problems in the middle. Then, the source of these problems is found and tried to be prevented from occurring again. All procedures performed for this purpose are called Preventive Dentistry. This field of expertise includes the regularity of nutrition habits, avoidance of wrong eating habits, training on oral and dental health, oral and dental hygiene.

Caries formation in teeth is affected by factors such as malnutrition, inadequate dental and oral care and tooth structure. Milk teeth are more prone to caries than the structure of permanent teeth. On the other hand, as children consume more sugary foods than adults, the risk increases. For these reasons, care of the milk teeth, as permanent teeth should be taken care of.

They maintain the space required for one’s future permanent teeth.
If they look good aesthetically, the child’s self-confidence increases.
They have a positive effect on correct speech in children.
They help to bite and chew food.
They guide the permanent teeth into place.

Preservation of primary teeth is important for the permanent placement of teeth. As with permanent teeth, decay and infection can occur in milk teeth. Milk teeth, which cannot be saved by filling and canal treatment, may need to be extracted. It is important that an X-ray is taken before shooting and that the decision is made after imaging.

Permanent teeth in children; 6 – 7 years for incisors, 8 years for side incisors, 10 years for canines, 9 – 10 years for molars, 6 years for first molars, 12 years for second molars, third molars is between 17 – 21 years.

In case of permanent teeth emergence without falling teeth, it is usually seen in canine teeth and incisors. Late falling teeth may sometimes need to be removed.

Orthodontic treatment is required in cases where the canines of the upper jaw come from above and from the front. With this treatment, a permanent tooth is brought to where it should be.

If the incurable milk teeth need to be removed, the space formed is protected by placeholders. The retainers remain in the mouth until the permanent tooth comes out. The placeholders can be movable and fixed.

Drops of milk teeth before the time of fall causes distortions in the teeth. Therefore, necessary studies should be done to keep the teeth in the mouth. The life of the decayed tooth can be prolonged by root canal treatment.

In some cases, primary teeth are intermittent. There is a size difference between the primary and permanent teeth. For this reason, the gaps in between allow the permanent tooth to settle.

The habit of finger-sucking and the use of continuous teats affects the children’s milk teeth and permanent teeth in sequence. It causes deep palate, speech disorder, arching of teeth and aesthetic problems.

These habits lead to orthodontic and orthopedic disorders. In such cases, parents should contact the dentist.

Children suffer from gum disease due to insufficient brushing and lack of clean teeth. The inflamed gums become red, bleed and swell. This risk is high in children who are sucking fingers and breathing by mouth.

The first orthodontic examination of children should be done at the age of 7 – 8 years, the first period when they start to remove their permanent teeth. Thus, problems can be identified and prevented in the early period.