Pediatric dentistry is the branch of dentistry that focuses on the oral health of children, from their birth to adolescence. The professional specialized in this area is the pediatric dentist, whose work also includes guidance and education about treatments and good oral hygiene habits to parents and children.
Making annual visits (or twice a year during the change of teeth) to the pediatric dentist helps to prevent dental diseases during childhood, such as cavities, malformations, infections, and pathologies that can manifest in adulthood.
Why is pediatric dentistry important?
Pediatric dentistry is important as it concentrates on the care of children’s oral health from an early age, establishing appropriate dental hygiene habits to prevent oral diseases in the future.
Also, a friendly and comfortable approach during dentist visits helps children to feel safe and to develop a positive attitude towards dental care, which can prevent fear and anxiety related to dentist visits in adulthood.
Moreover, children can experience certain unique dental conditions, such as bottle tooth decay and tooth eruption, which require specialized attention for good treatment and professional experience.
At what age should the first visit to the pediatric dentist be made?
It’s common for the first tooth to appear before the six months of age, which implies the need to observe the development of temporary teeth (known as milk teeth) and maintain proper oral hygiene. Therefore:
- It is recommended to schedule a dentist visit during the first year of life if any oral problem is perceived, such as lack of space for the growth of permanent teeth or some anomaly in the jaw.
- If no problem is identified, the first visit to the pediatric dentist can be from the age of five or six.
Who does the pediatric dentist treat?
The pediatric dentist mainly focuses on preventing oral problems and diseases to promote healthy habits in children from an early age. This includes:
- Oral self-care
- Information on balanced nutrition
- Positive attitude towards treatments and professional controls.
The specialty covers review and control from the birth of the baby until adolescence, actively involving the family from the guidance of the mother during pregnancy and in healthy upbringing for caregivers.
In addition, pediatric dentists also treat patients with special conditions, particularly those suffering from Down Syndrome or Trisomy 21, using their extensive clinical training and knowledge of the evolutionary and psychological development of human beings to emotionally connect with these patients.
What oral problems can we prevent thanks to pediatric dentistry?
Thanks to pediatric dental care, various oral conditions can be prevented, such as:
- Cavities
- Periodontal diseases
- Malocclusions
- Bite problems
- Conditions in the growth and development of teeth, among others.
In addition, as we have already indicated, pediatric dentists carry a professional pedagogy focused on dealing, educating,
and teaching about the importance of oral health care. For this:
- Pedagogical techniques and tools are used adapted to each age and level of understanding of each child. Always with the aim of teaching healthy hygiene habits, treating diseases, and preventing future pathologies.
Main pediatric dentistry treatments
Within the wide range of treatments offered by a specialist in pediatric dentistry, the following stand out:
- Treatment of dental traumas: As children are very active, it’s common for them to suffer some type of injury to the teeth. In these cases, it’s important to go to the pediatric dentist to determine the appropriate treatment, which may include the reconstruction or reimplantation of the damaged tooth.
- Dental cavities: Caries is a common problem among children and can be treated with a filling, a crown, or the extraction of the affected tooth, depending on the severity of the case.
- Use of sealants: In pediatric dentistry, the sealing of fissures and dental grooves is used as a preventive measure to reduce the appearance of cavities.
- Interceptive orthodontics: This type of orthodontics is performed at early ages to correct problems of bite and maxillofacial structure before they worsen.
- Space maintenance: Space maintainers are devices used to prevent permanent teeth from erupting incorrectly due to the premature loss of milk teeth.
At Prodent MX we have highly trained pediatric dentists, as they have all the necessary experience for the growth of the dental sector in Tijuana, Baja California.
Contact us to schedule your appointment.