What is Pedodontics?
Pedodontics is a sub-branch of dentistry that deals only with pediatric patients. Pedodontics treats pediatric patients between the ages of 0 and 13.
Children’s bone development is much different than adults. For this reason, children’s dental treatments may need to be different from adults. In this direction, it is necessary to consult a pedodontist for dental treatment until the age of 13, when all of the milk teeth of children have changed.
The pedodontist checks whether the pediatric patients who apply to him for various problems are in the caries risk group and ensures that they gain a nutritional habit in this direction. Apart from this, the jaw and tooth development of children is regulated and preventive orthodontic treatments can be applied.
How is Pedodontic Treatment Performed?
It provides a meeting with the doctor and the patient or the patient’s relative before the pedodontic treatment. He/she creates an operation plan by listening to the patient’s complaints and requests.
In pedodontic treatments, first of all, the patient’s teeth and gums are examined. The teeth that need to be extracted are pulled, the teeth that need filling are filled, or if necessary, root canal treatment is applied. The most important point in the field of pedodontics is the developing milk and permanent teeth and gums of children. Teeth and gums that are more sensitive than adults may sometimes need a different treatment.
Healing Process After Pedodontics Treatment
The recovery process of the patients after the pedodontic operation varies according to the treatment method applied. If the patient is treated with braces, the healing process may take a long time, while the recovery process after tooth extraction may take 1 week.
Why Do Milk Teeth Need Filling or Root Canal Treatment?
If we are going to change the baby teeth of the children and the permanent teeth coming from under them will melt the roots of the milk teeth and replace them, why do we try to protect the baby teeth by using a filling canal treatment or a stainless steel crown to keep the baby teeth in the mouth? Considering that nature will not accept a vacuum, it is necessary to always look one step ahead. If you experience normal milk tooth replacement at 7 years old; In children whose lower and upper front teeth begin to change, cavities on the back milk molars are common. If we pull these milk molars instead of filling them, or if we do not fill the interdental cavities with the thought that permanent teeth will come from under them after a few years, they will not be able to fully complete their development in that area of the jaw and there will be a shortage of space over time. Due to this lack of space, the main teeth that will come from below will not find a place, will remain embedded or will continue to be crooked. Besides, there will always be the possibility of damaging the small defenseless child’s body for years as these rotten milk teeth are a source of infection in the body.
Why Do Some Children’s Teeth Erupt?
Delayed tooth eruption is often attributed to genetics. When you question your parents and your spouse’s parents about your teething status as a child, you are likely to come across the same story as your child. There is a family pattern. Other causes of delayed tooth eruption are: premature, low birth weight, amelogenesis imperfecta, regional odontodysplasia, Down syndrome, hypopituitarism, nutritional deficiencies, etc.
What Should Be Considered After Pedodontic Treatment?
Fluid Consumption
Depending on the treatment method applied after pedodontic operations, it may be necessary not to consume liquid for 2-3 hours.
Drug Use
After pedodontics, pain occurs in the teeth and gums. You can use the drugs recommended by your doctor for these pains.
Food Consumption
According to the treatment method applied after pedodontics, it may be necessary not to consume any food for at least 2-3 hours.
Hygiene
Oral and dental hygiene should be given importance after pedodontic treatments.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Should children be treated by a pedodontist? Can’t a normal dentist examine children?
In some cases, regular dentists can also treat children’s teeth.
- Why do teeth decay so quickly in children?
Children love to eat sugary and acidic foods. Since the bacteria that cause caries in the mouth produce acid from sugar, and because the child’s permanent teeth are not protected against caries when they first erupt, caries that start in children progress much faster than adults. That’s why our children
It is important that we bring it to the dentist for examination once a month. With a simple examination, we can overcome our children’s fear of dentists in time.
How Can We Overcome Children’s Fear of the Dentist?
The area of expertise of pedodontists is children. Therefore, by understanding their fears, they can help them overcome their fears. To many children, dental offices remind of a scary environment. Keep children from associating going to the dentist with ideas of injections, tooth extraction or bleeding in their imaginations. Many factors can contribute to reducing a child’s anxiety. Calling the dentist as a kind friend, creating a stress-free environment, giving an early dental examination, giving a good explanation of the child’s curiosity, not using the word “needle” to relieve stress during the local anesthetic injection, avoiding the use of dental instruments, and rewarding the patient with the child’s plays an important role in overcoming fear.
