As parents, it’s our responsibility to keep our children healthy and help them develop the necessary habits to maintain good health throughout their lives. Pediatric dentists have the same goals. We want to keep your child’s mouth healthy and free from oral health complications like tooth decay, infection, and orthodontic issues. We also want them to maintain that high standard of oral health for life. In order to do that, your child needs to learn the right techniques, build healthy habits, and understand the importance of both.
Pediatric dentistry focuses on prevention, treatment, and education. A pediatric dentist (also known as a kids’ dentist) prevents oral health issues whenever possible, offers effective and prompt treatment if an issue does arise, and teaches children and their parents how to best care for their developing mouths at home.
Why is children’s dental care so important?
Dental care begins long before your child has a full set of permanent pearly whites. Caring for their baby teeth helps ensure that their adult teeth will emerge (and remain) bright, white, and healthy. Healthy baby teeth also play a critical role in facilitating good nutrition and speech development.
Furthermore, your child’s oral health doesn’t reset when their baby teeth fall out. Many dental issues that begin in early childhood can continue causing problems in adolescence and adulthood, such as tooth decay and orthodontic issues.
When baby teeth develop cavities, it can also affect their permanent teeth, even before their permanent teeth emerge. The bacteria can migrate below the gums, attacking the underlying and developing adult tooth. This can cause permanent damage to the unemerged tooth, leaving it malformed, discoloured, or unable to erupt at all.
Untreated cavities can also lead to premature loss of baby teeth. If the adult tooth is not fully developed and does not emerge to fill the empty space, the neighbouring teeth often shift over to occupy that gap. Then, when the adult tooth is ready, there is not enough space for it to erupt properly. This leads to tooth misalignment and crowding. Orthodontic treatment is then required to correct the issue.
Some orthodontic issues also develop on their own. Your kid’s dentist closely monitors the progression of their teeth, gums, and jaw bones to catch development problems before they get worse. Early intervention can prevent the necessity of expensive and complex orthodontic treatments later on.
Your child’s baby teeth are temporary, but the oral health habits formed in childhood will last a lifetime. As their parent, you can help your child develop positive dental hygiene practices that will keep their smiles bright and healthy for life.
Prevent Oral Health Issues
Children’s dental care is crucial for preventing oral health issues like cavities, abscesses, gum disease, and more. Remember, prevention is always the best medicine! Consistent at-home dental care (including brushing and flossing), eating a healthy diet, and regular visits to their pediatric dentist will help to keep your child’s mouth healthy.
Early Intervention of Oral Health Problems
When prevention fails, the next best thing is early intervention. The quicker that oral health issues can be detected and treated, the better. Early treatment is less invasive, faster, and more effective.
A small cavity only requires a small filling, but a severe bacterial infection can necessitate a tooth extraction. Other oral health problems are easier to treat in children than in adolescents and adults, like orthodontic issues. Since children’s jawbones are still soft and forming, orthodontic treatment is easier and faster than in adults with fully formed bones.
Ensure Healthy Oral Development
Your child’s mouth undergoes significant changes between the ages of zero and sixteen. Fortunately, pediatric dentists know what to expect and what to look out for. We’re trained to monitor the development of young mouths, so we can catch potential issues quickly and intervene.
Create Healthy Habits Early
When a habit forms in early childhood, it’s far more likely to stick. Teaching your child the importance of dental hygiene and helping them form healthy habits is vital for their long-term oral health. This includes brushing twice a day, flossing once a day, making mouth-healthy diet choices, and visiting the dentist every six months for cleanings and checkups.
Pediatric dentists love and understand kids. We know how to create a calming and positive environment for our littlest patients, which helps to prevent and reduce dental anxiety. These positive experiences set the foundation for a lifetime of dental care.
What does a pediatric dentist do?
Pediatric dentistry is a specialized branch of dentistry, focused on the health of children from birth to the end of adolescence. A pediatric dentist undergoes the same training as a regular dentist before going on to complete an additional two to three years of specialized education. This means that no one is better equipped to care for the health and well-being of your child’s teeth and gums than a pediatric dentist!
Pediatric dentists perform a range of preventative and restorative procedures. These include the following:
- Teeth cleanings: Regular dental cleanings are essential for preventing tooth cavities, gum disease, and other oral health issues. Some plaque and tartar buildup is unavoidable (even with rigorous at-home oral hygiene regimes), so professional teeth cleanings are necessary to remove them.
- Sealants: Dental sealants are protective coatings applied to the back molars to prevent cavities.
- Fluoride treatments: Fluoride strengthens tooth enamel to keep your child’s teeth strong and resistant to cavities.
- Dental X-rays: Pediatric dentists use X-rays to monitor the development and health of your child’s baby teeth, adult teeth, and jaw bones.
- Fillings: When cavities form, they need to be removed and filled to keep the tooth safe from further decay and infection.
- Crowns: Large cavities leave large holes when removed, necessitating a restorative device, such as a crown.
- Extractions: Severely decayed and damaged teeth sometimes need to be removed.
How often should my kid see their dentist?
Your child’s first dental visit should coincide with their first birthday or the eruption of their first tooth. This initial visit is very important. It’s a valuable opportunity for their pediatric dentist to examine their facial bones, jaw bones, and unerupted baby teeth. We look for potential problems so that we can intervene quickly.
This appointment is the start of a long relationship with your child’s pediatric dentist. It’s a great time for parents to ask questions, communicate concerns, and learn how to best care for their kids’ developing teeth and gums. When you know the proper hygiene techniques, you can then teach them to your child.
Just like adults, children should visit the dentist every six months. Their mouths develop very quickly over a short period, so close monitoring is vital.
Pediatric Dentistry at Bristol Dental Clinic
Bristol Dental Clinic specializes in pediatric dentistry in Mississauga. Our pediatric dentists care for our smallest patients with warmth, care, and understanding. We use easy-to-understand language and kid-friendly models to teach your child the importance of dental care, while creating a fun and enjoyable atmosphere.
Their oral health and their happiness are important to us. We want their visits to be positive, and we take extra steps to make sure that happens. We’re proud to care for the health of your entire family.
To book an appointment with a dentist in Mississauga, call Bristol Dental Clinic at 866-673-2109 or contact us here.
