Department of Pediatric Dentistry

Pediatric dentistry is a branch of dentistry that deals with Childs oral health from birth to 14 years of age. Pediatric Dentistry not only aims at preventing various dental problems, but also treating them efficiently.

Who is a Pedodontist?
A person who practices pediatric dentistry is called a Pediatric Dentist / Pedodontist. Childs first visit to the dentist should be at first week of birth [Infant Oral Health Care] and there after a regular visit of at least once in 6 months should be followed.

Common problems prevalent in children from infancy through adolescent age treated in pediatric dentistry:
Teething, Natal teeth, Neonatal teeth, Early childhood caries/ nursing bottle caries, Trauma, Malocclusion, Habits and others.

Preventive measures:

School Dental Health Camps: these are conducted as a part of preventive programs for school going children to motivate and promote good oral hygiene practices.

Treatment of various problems:
1. PIT & FISSURE SEALENT:

This procedure is done to prevent caries initiation and progression.

2. EARLY CHILD HOOD / NURSING BOTTLE CARIES:
This type of dental decay occurs mainly because of improper feeding habits which affects all the surfaces of the teeth.

3. TRAUMA:

Trauma is a common form of injury prevalent in developing countries like India. Trauma can be any form of damage to the teeth from simple chipping of the tooth structure on complete avulsion [tooth outside the socket].

Most of the injuries are because of sports followed by road traffic accidents, negligence of school authorities, parents etc. So proper guidelines should be given to parents and school teachers regarding the same. First aid kit consisting of cotton rolls, gauze pieces, bandages, antiseptics, solutions for preserving the avulsed teeth should be provided to all the schools as a first aid measure.

4. CROSS BITE/CROWDING:

When teeth are not aligned properly it causes crowding

5. ENDODONTICS:
When decay progresses deep, there is pus formation inside the teeth, and this infection has to be removed by a procedure called root canal treatment.

6. STAINLESS STEEL CROWN:

After root canal treatment of the teeth, the teeth becomes brittle. So it has to be capped with crowns.

7. SPACE MAINTAINERS:
Soon after the extraction of milk teeth sometimes the space has to be maintained, Otherwise it causes drifting of the adjacent teeth leading to space loss. Erupting new teeth may not have enough space so space maintainers are given to prevent crowding of teeth.

8. BLEACHING:

As we know the teeth is white in color, at times it becomes discolored due to many reasons [Fluorosis] which may lead to psychological as well as aesthetic problems in children as well as in adults. To remove these stains procedure called as Bleaching is done.

9. HABITS
Habits like thumb sucking, lip biting is more common in children which have to be stopped to prevent further dental problems.

10. ORTHO CORRECTION:

11. MINOR SURGERIES – DENTIGEROUS CYST:

Special Children: Mentally and Physically challenged, Blind, Deaf and Dumb.

We also treat such children in our specialty

HOME CARE:
Home care begins from the very early stages of infancy through adolescence.
Cleaning of gum pads for infants can be started within first week of birth.

Take small gauze [2"X 2"] or clean cloth between thumb and fore finger and wipe vigorously over the ridge of the baby’s top and bottom jaws for 2 to 3 minutes.

Now a days, specially designed tooth brushes, finger cots and wipes are available for infants which can also be used. Clean the gum pads regularly after every feed or at least twice daily, in the morning and at night.

It is also advisable to feed baby with water after every milk feeding.
Parents should insist on good brushing habits at an early age that is when the teeth start erupting in oral cavity.

BRUSHING:

It is advisable to brush the teeth twice daily, in the morning and before bed time at night. A soft bristled tooth brush and tooth paste [approximately Pea Sized] should be squeezed. The child must brush the teeth in up and down and circular motion, cleaning all the teeth in the oral cavity. It should be followed by cleaning of tongue either with a brush or tongue cleaner.

Department of Pedodontics at S.D.M Dental College: