Paediatric Dentistry

Parents are always very concerned about the teeth of their children and have a lot of questions to ask.

Paediatric dentistry is that branch of dental science which deals with children and their dental problems.

Milk teeth, or deciduous teeth as they are called, are important and should be taken care of. They are often thought to be temporary and neglected but one should take care of his or her child's milk teeth as they are the foundation for permanent teeth. They help maintain space for permanent teeth.

Parents are inquisitive about the following things:

1. When baby teeth will appear
2. How to take care of the child's teeth
3. When the child should visit a dentist
4. Preventive measures

When Baby Teeth Appear

Upper Teeth

Central Incisors - A - 8-12 months

Lateral Incisors - B - 9-13 months

Cuspids - C - 16-22 months

First molars - D - 13-19 months

Second molars - E - 25-33 months

Lower Teeth

Lateral Incisors - A-10-16 months

Central Incisors -B - 10 months

Cuspids - C - 17-23 months

First molars - D - 14-18 months

Second molars - E - 22-31 months

When Permanent Teeth Appear

Upper Teeth

1. Central incisors - 7-8 years
2. Lateral incisors - 8-9 years
3. Cuspids - 11-12 years
4. First premolars - 10-11 years
5. Second premolars - 10-12 years
6. First molars - 6-7 years
7. Second molars - 12-13 years
8. Third molars - 17-21 years

Lower Teeth

1. Central incisors - 6-7 years
2. Lateral incisors - 7-8 years
3. Cuspids - 9-10 years
4. First premolars - 10-12 years
5. Second premolars - 11-12 years
6. First molars - 6-7 years
7. Second molars - 11-13 years
8. Third molars - 17-21 years

Infant care

There are a number of ways to look after your child's teeth.

1. As parents, practise good oral hygiene yourself
2. It is important that babies get enough calcium to form strong teeth growing within the jaw bones.
3. Ensure chat your community water is fluoridated because fluoride prevents tooth decay. If community water is nonfluoridated consult your dentist for fluoride supplements and protective sealants.
4. Once your baby's primary or deciduous teeth break through the gums, it is important to begin cleaning the teeth at least once a day. Never put your baby to bed with a bottle of milk or juice. Because this causes Nursing Bottle Caries or Rampant Caries.
5. Feed your child a balanced diet and offer healthy snacks (keep bite-sized fresh vegetables at eye level of the child).
6. If your child, adolescent or teenager is active in contact sports, ask your dentist about protective mouth guard and insist your child wears it while playing.
7. Ensure your child has regular dental care through­out his development.

Prevention

Every parent wants his or her child to have a nice smile. Healthy teeth are a must for such a smile.

The first dental check up should be done at the child's second birthday to diagnose and prevent any future oral disorders. The age of one year is also a good time to begin weaning your child from drinking milk from a bottle.

In the first visit, the dentist will examine your child's mouth. The examination will include teeth, gums, tongue, lips and roof of the mouth. Depending on the child's age, the number of teeth present and the child's ability to cooperate, the dentist may order a few cavity detecting X-rays, if decay is suspected. The X-rays are also helpful in determining whether, permanent teeth are developing normally. Your child; may also have his or her teeth cleaned.

By sharing their own pleasant experience or by playacting "dentist and patient" with their child, parents can remove the fear of the dentist from a child's mind.

A common occurrence with active children is injury that results from accidents, such as jumping " off a diving board, falling over the handlebars of a, bicycle, hitting a dashboard or tripping and falling. Teeth that sustain injuries should be treated immediately by a dentist. In many cases further injury or discolouration can be prevented with prompt care.

Sometimes during accidents, children will have a healthy tooth completely knocked out (avulsion of the tooth). If this happens to a permanent tooth save the tooth and any fragment or gum tissue. Soak the tooth in milk or water until help can be found. If milk or water is not available keep the tooth in saliva by holding it under the tongue or between the cheek and gum. In most cases, a tooth can be reimplanted successfully if help is obtained within the first hour. After 6 hours saving the tooth becomes more difficult as time passes.

Milk teeth lost due to caries or injury can give rise to many problems such as crooked teeth, because milk teeth provide foundation and guidance for the permanent (secondary) teeth.

Early problems with teeth also affect a child's ability to eat, chew, form speech patterns and swallow. This is specially important for your child's sense of social confidence and self-esteem. If baby teeth are lost early, cosmetic appliances and space maintainers are available to replace them or to provide space for permanent teeth to come through.