A pediatric dentist is a professional who provides routine dental care for children to help maintain good oral health. Pediatric dentists are trained to cover all aspects of oral health care for kids. Before practising, they must complete their post-graduate training. They must also become certified by the pediatric dentistry board.
Their training encompasses preventive dentistry, restorative dentistry, behaviour management, and oral trauma management. Sedation dentistry, interceptive orthodontics, and pathology are also included in the training. Therefore, a pediatric dentist can handle various oral health issues in all kids. They cater to kids from infancy through adolescence, including those with special needs.
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What Is the Primary Goal of Pediatric Dentistry?
A child should start seeing a pediatric dentist in Spring, TX, early. They should visit a dentist as soon as their first tooth erupts or by their first birthday. Pediatric dentistry mainly focuses on promoting kids’ dental health. It also serves as an educational resource for their parents. In addition, it establishes a relationship between the child and their dentist.
Seeing a pediatric dentist helps in early assessing and treating oral health problems. The specialist provides habit counselling to modify bad oral habits in kids. In addition, parents and kids are educated on preventive home care, prevention of oral injuries, proper nutrition, and diet.
What Procedures Are Done in Pediatric Dentistry?
Pediatric dentistry is an oral health specialty for children from birth through adolescence. It deals with providing primary and comprehensive preventive and therapeutic oral health care. Procedures carried out throughout the different teeth, and jaw development stages are included.
Some of the standard procedures carried out through pediatric dentistry near you include:
1.Dental Exams and Cleanings
A kid requires regular dental checkups and cleanings to help maintain their oral health. The dentist checks for problems in the child’s mouth that may not have been noticed and treat them. This specialist also ensures that the kid’s teeth develop correctly. They do this by preventing and correcting jaw developmental issues.
Children are susceptible to cavities since they consume excessive sugar and lack proper oral hygiene. Routine cleanings ensure no plaque build-up in the child’s teeth that may lead to cavities or gum disease. The dentist teaches the child how to clean their teeth well. They also answer any questions you may have about your child’s mouth.
2. Dental Sealants
By having the pediatric dentist apply dental sealants on your child’s teeth, you can prevent tooth decay. They are protective plastic coverings painted on teeth. Teeth with deep grooves are made smooth and less likely to hide plaque. Sealants give teeth extra protection against cavities and make cleaning them more manageable.
3. Dental Filling
As soon as a baby’s first tooth erupts, it is susceptible to tooth decay and cavities. Tooth cavities may lead to tooth loss and gum disease if left untreated. If your child has cavities, the pediatric dentist in Spring, TX, will eliminate the bacteria causing caries. Next, they will repair the kid’s teeth using tooth-colored fillings. Glass ionomer fillings are ideal for kids.
3. Early Orthodontic Care
Early orthodontic care is the assessment of kids’ teeth. It is carried out early to intercept their oral health and development. First, the dentist observes the child’s oral development to identify malocclusion and bite problems. If any issues are detected, the pediatric dentist intervenes to guide the teeth as they erupt. It helps prevent extensive orthodontic work in the future.
4. Fluoride Treatments
The dentist provides fluoride treatments for kids. They help protect the child’s teeth from cavities and strengthen teeth weakened by cavities. Your child may get professional fluoride treatments or supplements for home use.
5. Sealants
These are thin resin coatings applied to the chewing surfaces of the child’s teeth. They help prevent tooth decay. In addition, sealants prevent plaque from collecting on the pits and grooves found in the chewing surface of the teeth.
6. Pulpotomy
Pulpotomy is a treatment to repair infected nerves and blood vessels in a child’s teeth. The infection may be due to extensive tooth decay or dental trauma. An infected pulp causes pain, swelling, infection, or tooth loss. It must be removed to extend the life of the tooth.
Help your kids by ensuring they get excellent dental health care. Contact us for comprehensive pediatric dentistry procedures at Charm Dental-Spring.