Unfortunately, fear of dentistry is one of the problems that many children face.
The presence of noisy and relatively intimidating devices and equipment in this place has made children reluctant to visit the dentist.
However, for a long time now, pediatric dental services in reputable clinics, such as Dr. Bonyanian Dental Clinic, have been separated from adult dental services.
This has completely changed the approach to treating children’s teeth and even the atmosphere of this environment.
Sometimes, a child not only does not experience fear and anxiety in this environment but also leaves with happiness and a smile.
Below, we will explain everything you need to know about pediatric dental services.
What is Pediatric Dentistry?
Pediatric dentistry or children’s dentistry refers to all dental services performed for children (from birth until the eruption of permanent teeth). These services include root canal therapy, pulpotomy, pulpectomy, restoration, fissure sealants, and fluoride therapy.
Baby teeth, due to the important roles they play in the child’s oral and dental system, must be preserved until the eruption of permanent teeth. Pediatric dentists will perform attractive and painless treatments for children using behavior management techniques.
The Importance of Caring for Baby Teeth in Children
One of the care requirements for children in their early years is parental attention to the condition of their children’s teeth. This care begins from the age of one (when the child’s baby teeth erupt) and continues until the child reaches the ability and understanding to care for their own teeth.
These years are a crucial period in your child’s life. Because neglecting your child’s teeth will lead to a series of consecutive problems in their future. Damaged baby teeth mean:
- Teeth falling out or needing extraction at a young age.
- Loss of your child’s self-confidence in childhood.
- The child’s inability to chew food.
- Improper growth of the child due to the inability to eat.
- Inability to pronounce letters and words correctly due to the absence of one or more teeth in their mouth.
- Insufficient jaw growth for the development of permanent teeth (which ultimately leads to misaligned teeth and the need for dental orthodontics).
Next, we will discuss practical solutions for you, parents, to care for your children’s teeth. But before that, don’t forget that it’s best to familiarize your child with a pediatric specialist dentist from a young age and visit for a check-up every six months.
Who is a Pediatric Dental Specialist?
A pediatric dental specialist, or in other words, a pediatric dentist, is a dentist who has specialized in the field of children’s dental care and oral health.
These doctors, after obtaining a general dentistry degree, continue their specialized education in the field of pediatric dentistry to be able to provide special treatment and care for child patients.
Pediatric dental specialists have acquired the necessary professional expertise and knowledge in diagnosing and treating children’s dental problems. They apply their specialized skills in pediatric orthodontics, filling baby and permanent teeth, pulpotomy and pulpectomy of baby teeth, and even psychological methods for dealing with children during treatment.
These dentists provide parents with necessary tips, guidance, and practical and verbal instructions regarding children’s oral and dental health.
They must be able to reduce children’s fear and stress by employing appropriate methods and using suitable equipment and even an environment that gives children a sense of calm, and provide them with a positive experience of visiting the dentist.
Best Age for a Child’s First Dental Visit
| Explanation | Topic |
|---|---|
| 6 months after the first tooth erupts or by 1 year of age at the latest | Best age for the first visit |
| To prevent early childhood caries and to check jaw and tooth development | Why is this time important? |
| Familiarizing the child with the dental environment, educating parents, assessing dental health | Goal of the first visit |
| Every 6 months (sooner if needed) | Frequency of subsequent visits |
| Effective prevention, reducing child’s fear, early diagnosis of oral and dental problems | Benefits of starting early |
| Teaching proper brushing, healthy nutrition, creating a positive experience of visiting the dentist | Role of parents |
| Cavities, gum condition, tooth eruption, oral habits (thumb sucking, mouth breathing) | What is checked? |
| Visiting a pediatric dental specialist for appropriate interaction and a child-friendly environment | Special recommendation |
Services Available at a Pediatric Dental Clinic
Services offered at a pediatric dental clinic can be divided into three groups: prevention, treatment, and education. Below, we will explain each of these three groups for you.
Preventive Services at Pediatric Dental Clinics
One of the services available at pediatric dental clinics is providing various items to prevent future damage to teeth and maintain oral and dental health. Below are some common preventive services at pediatric dental clinics (or clinics with a pediatric section):
- Preventive examination to avoid tooth decay.
- Filling decayed teeth with tooth-colored materials.
- Fissure sealants used to prevent early tooth decay.
- Use of fluoride to strengthen teeth.
- Screening and diagnosis of certain oral and dental conditions that may be related to diseases such as diabetes, congenital heart defects, cleft palate, asthma, hay fever, and hyperactivity disorder.
Treatment Services at Pediatric Dental Clinics
These services include treatment solutions for damaged or problematic teeth in children. Examples of services available at pediatric dental units include the following:
- Extraction of baby teeth.
- Treatment of gum diseases.
- Orthodontic services.
- Filling baby teeth.
- Treatment of oral injuries such as tooth fractures, avulsions, or loosened teeth.
- Providing pediatric dental services under general anesthesia or sedation.
- Using X-rays to diagnose cavities, examine erupting teeth, diagnose bone disease, evaluate the results of occurred damage, or plan for orthodontic treatment for children.
Educational Services at Pediatric Dental Clinics
Perhaps teaching correct behaviors regarding oral and dental care is one of the most important services offered in these clinics. Because correct education for the child, for their entire life, will be accompanied by adherence to hygiene and care principles.
Of course, don’t forget that part of this education is for the child and part for the parents. Examples of these educational sessions include the following:
- Assessment and consultation for bad habits in children, such as thumb sucking or pacifier use.
- Consultation on how to breastfeed a newborn.
- Nutritional assessment and dietary advice.
- Teaching correct brushing and flossing to children.
The Importance of the Pediatric Dental Clinic Environment in a Child’s Treatment Process
Children have very sensitive temperaments. Moreover, they are unable to understand the importance of their dental health. For this reason, cooperating with the dentist can be a big ask of them!
One of the reasons for the high importance of the pediatric dental clinic environment becomes clear here. A child-friendly clinic environment, the presence of cheerful and welcoming staff in this environment, and a dentist who treats children’s teeth with patience and حوصله (patience/tolerance), encourage the child to cooperate with the doctor.
This environment should be friendly, pleasant, and calming so that children feel safe and comfortable. Furthermore, some of these children may experience fear and anxiety due to separation from their parents. Providing an environment that allows the parent to be present with the child will greatly help in the successful completion of the treatment.
A friendly and pleasant environment at the pediatric dental clinic can help build positive relationships between the child and the dentist. These positive relationships ultimately lead to improved cooperation from children in the treatment process and create a positive dental experience for them.
Pediatric Orthodontics
Pediatric orthodontics, or children’s orthodontics, is one of the services of pediatric dental clinics. This process involves the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of orthodontic problems (related to the alignment and position of teeth and jaws) in children’s mouths and teeth.
The main goal of this treatment is to correct problems related to oral and dental abnormalities during childhood itself. Because treating this problem at younger ages is much simpler and more effective than in adulthood.
Orthodontic treatment for children is usually performed using special orthodontic devices and appliances that are attached to the teeth and jaws. These appliances exert pressure on the teeth and gradually guide them to their correct position.
Types of dental problems in children that can be resolved with orthodontics include misaligned teeth, abnormal displacements, large or small jaws, and more.
These abnormalities can cause problems such as difficulty swallowing, speech difficulties, mouth pain, and improper contact between teeth. Therefore, orthodontic treatment for children can improve oral and dental function, facial appearance, and increase self-confidence.
One of the important points in this process is that orthodontic treatment for children should be performed by an experienced orthodontist or a pediatric dental specialist. Because this process is very time-consuming and long-term, and also requires the full cooperation of the child with the specialist.
Pediatric Dental Sedation/Anesthesia
One of the many concerns of parents who visit Dr. Bonyanian Dental Clinic for their child’s dental treatment is the child’s lack of cooperation with the dentist.
These parents, referring to their child’s lack of cooperation with strangers (like a hairdresser or doctor), believe that treating their child’s teeth may seem impossible.
First and foremost, it’s best to know that one of the skills of a pediatric dental specialist is to calm the child and provide the necessary foundation to start the dental treatment process. However, in special circumstances where the child (due to separation anxiety from parents or even young age) is unwilling to cooperate for treatment, the dentist will suggest the use of anesthesia.
This issue is particularly concerning for parents who have no information about how anesthesia is used in dental services. But the truth is that using anesthesia for pediatric dentistry is a common method used by many doctors worldwide.
Dr. Bonyanian explains in this regard:
Sedating a child for dental treatment is usually used in cases such as deep restorative treatment, oral and dental surgery, or treatments that require a long time.
Method of Pediatric Sedation in Dentistry
Based on an article titled “Pediatric Dental Surgery Under General Anesthesia,” pediatric dental anesthesia is performed by an anesthesiologist. This doctor is a specialist in anesthesia management and monitoring the child’s anesthetic status. For this reason, this procedure is only performed in well-equipped and specialized clinics.
The process of pediatric sedation in dentistry is the same as the general anesthesia process used in hospitals. In this method, the child is affected by anesthetic drugs and becomes completely unconscious.
These drugs can be administered to the patient intravenously or by inhalation (mask or endotracheal tube). The anesthesiologist continuously monitors the child’s condition throughout the anesthesia process.
Timely Treatment of Childhood Tooth Decay | Stages of Treating Children’s Teeth
Addressing and timely treating childhood tooth decay is done to prevent the worsening of decay, avoid forced tooth extraction, and maintain dental health. Timely treatment of tooth decay generally includes the following stages:
- Diagnosis: First, the dentist examines your child’s teeth. This examination is done by the dentist looking at the teeth or by using diagnostic tools such as radiographs.
- Preserving healthy teeth: If the decay is in its early stages and the tooth tissue damage is minimal, it may be possible to save the tooth by placing restorative materials (fillings). The priority is always to save the tooth.
- Nerve and root treatment: If the decay has penetrated deep into the tooth and affected the nerve tissue, nerve and root treatment may be necessary. In this method, the damaged nerve tissue is removed, and the tooth is filled with special materials.
- Tooth extraction: In some cases, if the decay has progressed to such an extent that the tooth cannot be saved, the dentist will have to extract the tooth. This is done to prevent damage to adjacent teeth and to prevent the tooth from breaking.
How to Clean Baby Teeth in Children
- Clean the baby’s gums with a soft, clean washcloth or sterile moistened gauze to help reduce bacteria.
- Do not share spoons, forks, or cups. Because bacteria in saliva can be transmitted to the child by sharing food or drinks.
- Brush your child’s teeth twice a day from the very beginning until the child reaches an age where they can brush on their own.
- Teach your child the appropriate amount of toothpaste and how to floss.
- Prevent continuous sucking on a baby bottle during sleep. Because continuous sucking increases harmful bacteria for teeth.
- Use a baby bottle only for giving milk to the child and avoid filling it with other drinks to prevent continuous sucking by the child.
- Minimize the amount of sugar in the child’s diet.
- Visit the dentist regularly. The first visit should be between 6 months to 1 year of age.
What is the Family’s Role in Preparing a Child for the First Dental Visit?
The family can play an important role in preparing a child for the first dental visit. This should not be limited to the time of visiting the pediatric dentist. Rather, preparations for this should be made in advance.
For example, parents should try, in coordination with the doctor, to bring the child with them to the dental office when they go for their own dental visit, so the child can tangibly see the process of dental examination for their parents or relatives.
Parents should try to educate themselves about preparing their children for a pediatric dental visit by reading books and using resources available online. They should try not to use the word “shot” (needle/injection) to create fear in the child and not to make their child afraid of the doctor.
Parents can buy toys in the form of dental tools to examine and check their own and their children’s teeth and allow children to play the role of a dentist examining their teeth.
One should not rush to visit a pediatric dentist; rather, before the visit, ensure that the child is adequately prepared and in a good emotional state.
Final Summary
Pediatric dentistry is an important field in dentistry for maintaining the oral and dental health of children. Since childhood is a sensitive stage in the growth and development of teeth and oral tissues, the need for proper care and treatment of teeth is very important.
In this article prepared by Dr. Bonyanian Dental Clinic, we discussed the importance of pediatric dentistry, methods of preventing oral and dental diseases in children, appropriate treatments for children’s dental problems, and important points in caring for children’s oral and dental health.
Given the importance of oral health throughout life, providing proper dental care to children from the early stages of their lives is very important and can help maintain their oral and dental health throughout their lives.
Dr. Bonyanian Dental Clinic, with its experienced and professional staff of top pediatric dental specialists in the country, is ready to provide services to all dear parents and children.
You can benefit from the pediatric dental services of our clinic by calling 00982188539720 or by visiting our clinic located at Unit 7, No. 22, West 6th St., Ahmad Qasir (Bokharest) St., Arjantin Sq., Tehran.
Dr. Nazi Bonyanian
Dental Surgeon (DDS) — Medical Council Number: 138662
Graduate of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences with over 15 years of experience in implants, laminates, and oral and dental surgery.
Address: No. 22, Unit 7, West Alley 6, Bokharest Street, Argentina Sq., Tehran, Iran
Phone: +98-21-88539720 | WhatsApp: +98-912-514-2202
Email: info@drbonyanian.com
Working Hours: Sat–Wed 09:00–20:00 | Thu 09:00–14:00 | Friday Closed
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