Children’s Dentistry

Pedodontics literally means “PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY” and is mainly involved in the examination and monitoring of oral health of children. A specialist dentist in this specific discipline of dentistry is called a “pedodontist”. Dental treatment of children should be performed by a pedodontist.

Dental caries is a disease that can be transmitted from the mother to the child. Close contact with the mother or the caretaker causes the transmission of bacteria of dental caries to the child (for example: feeding the child with the same spoon, with which the mother checked the temperature of the food previously; mother checking the flow of the food from the feeding bottle with her mouth or kissing the baby on its face close to the mouth, etc.).

Treatment of decayed deciduous teeth will allow for the healthy development of future permanent teeth. Therefore, potential future misalignments of teeth or jaws will be prevented. It is possible to treat decayed milk teeth at any age. It is also possible to treat decayed milk teeth appropriately under general anaesthesia. Decayed teeth are sources of infection. They cause the development of many dangerous diseases in children. Protection from dental caries takes shorter and is easier and more economical than its treatment.

The deciduous teeth first erupt around the sixth month of age and the first permanent tooth erupts at the age of 6. Milk teeth fall out at various times during childhood until the age of 11 and they are replaced by the permanent teeth.

The rapid proliferation of bacteria in the mouth of the child after the eruption of the first teeth will cause dental caries at very early ages if active and regular tooth brushing is not applied. Bottle feeding or nursing for longer periods or in the night is associated with early tooth decay. Offering pacifiers to the child after dipping them into honey or jam will also cause dental caries in the deciduous teeth.

Teeth cleaning should start in infancy after the eruption of first teeth. Teeth should be cleaned using a sterile gauze or finger brushes made of silicone after breakfast in the morning and before going to sleep at night.
Ordinary tooth brushing should begin when the child is at the age of two or two and a half. Tooth brushing should start with fluoride-containing toothpaste after 5 years of age, applying just a tiny smear of toothpaste onto the brush. Cleaning the teeth only with water will be sufficient until this age.
The critical time of teeth brushing is night-time before going to sleep. Because saliva is secreted less during the night, this prepares the grounds for dental caries to develop readily.
Fluoride-containing gels applied by your dentist will protect the tooth enamel against developing caries.
Regular administration of fluoride tablets is beneficial between 0-12 years of age.

Dosage:
6 months-3 years: > 0.25 mg/day
3-6 years: > 0.50 mg/day
6-16 years: > 1 mg/day

Tablets are initially given by adding them to milk. With growing age, taking the tablets by sucking in the mouth will enhance their protective effect.
Dental sealants covering the pits and grooves on the surface of teeth prevent the development of dental caries.
Studies have demonstrated that the sealants stay on the surface of teeth for 10-15 years when applied appropriately.
The sealants can be transparent, in the same colour as the enamel or they may be coloured.
Families need to take their children to a specialist when the children have good oral health so that these preventive measures will be taken before the development of dental caries.