Paediatric Dentistry
for effective oral hygiene and for any treatment. We aim to create a relationship of trust with children
so that they grow up trusting and not fearing their dentist.
for effective oral hygiene and for any treatment. We aim to create a relationship of trust with children
so that they grow up trusting and not fearing their dentist.
Atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) is an alternative treatment for dental caries (tooth decay). The demineralized and insensitive outer carious dentin is removed with hand instruments only, requiring no electricity or anaesthesia.
After removing the carious (decayed) tooth substance with hand instruments, the cavity is filled with conventional self-hardening glass ionomer cement, thereby reducing pain and anxiety in children.
Pit and fissure sealants are either resin-based materials or glass ionomer cements applied to the occlusal (biting) surface of the tooth, covering the pits and fissures that are susceptible to decay. Dental sealant restorations are also indicated for carious lesions that have not advanced into the dentin in occlusal surfaces of permanent molars, pre-molars and primary molars.
Pit and fissure sealants are indicated for children and adults who are at a moderate or high risk of developing dental caries or have incipient caries in pits and fissures.
The procedure is simple, painless and effective.
For starters, the teeth are cleaned carefully. A mild acid solution is applied to them to roughen them slighlty. This is done so the sealant can bond properly to the tooth. Then the teeth are rinsed and dried, and the sealant material is painted on and dried with a special light.
The devices that are used in order to restrict an improper oral habit are commonly referred to as habit breaking appliances.
Improper oral habits include thumb-sucking, nail biting, mouth breathing etc. These disorders are of serious concern when continued over a long time period.
If not treated, they can result in misalignment of teeth & jaws, gum disease etc.
These devices can be of either fixed or removable category.
Indications
A space maintainer is a removable or fixed appliance designed to maintain an existing space.
Space maintainers are usually fitted in children when they have lost baby teeth early. The gap left from losing this tooth needs to be held open for the permanent tooth to erupt in the correct position.
A mould of your child’s mouth is taken at one appointment, the mould is then sent to a laboratory that makes the space maintainer. At the second appointment the metal band is placed around the tooth that is behind the missing one.
Next a loop or brace is placed that goes over the gum where the missing tooth was and rests against the tooth in front of this space.
When the band is cemented on the tooth, it prevents the teeth from moving into the space where the missing tooth was and allows the adult tooth enough space to grow into the proper position
(Root canal treatment for children)
In cases where tooth decay extends deep into the nerve portion of the tooth it might be necessary to perform a root canal as described for the permanent tooth which is a better alternative to tooth extraction in most cases.