Pediatric Dentistry

Good oral hygiene is of the utmost importance, not only for aesthetic reasons, but mainly for the prevention of oral and systemic diseases. It is estimated that by the age of 10, a child has already developed severe tooth decay, by age 35 the average American will have already lost 5 of their teeth, and another 11 teeth will suffer from gum disease. In addition, research has shown that having periodontitis is associated with increased chances of developing cardiovascular disease, bacterial pneumonia, premature birth, diabetes mellitus and osteoporosis.

Oral hygiene has as its main purpose the existence of a healthy and clean oral cavity, using simple daily cleaning methods (e.g. brushing, dental floss, etc.). So while most of us have access to these methods, why are problems like gingivitis and periodontitis still so common?

The key to proper oral hygiene is the correct use of dental tools. Unfortunately, a large percentage of people have not been informed about how to choose the right dental brush or how to use them correctly. In addition, there are many such products on the market and many times it is very difficult for the customer to choose which one is the suitable one. So, it is very important to buy the right product, but also to learn to use it correctly.

What should we do?

• We brush our teeth at least 2 times a day, mainly after breakfast and before going to bed.
• Brush for at least 2 minutes.
• We brush our teeth with gentle circular movements.
• We change our toothbrush every 3 months or after it wears out. If we have had a cold, experts recommend changing it.
• We floss regularly.
• We visit our dentist often.

And what should we NOT do?

• We do not brush our teeth vertically.
• We do not press the toothbrush too hard on the gums and teeth.
• We do not stop brushing our teeth if the gums bleed.
• We do not rinse our mouths before 2 minutes.

1. I wash my hands well and thoroughly before the procedure.
2. I cut a piece of dental floss about 50cm long, with the two ends of the floss around my two middle fingers respectively.
3. I hold the floss well with my index fingers and thumbs on the left and right respectively, in such a way that I leave about 3-5 cm of floss free.
4. I move the floss gently between two teeth. If it gets stuck somewhere, I gently make soft movements to loosen it and continue. I do not forget to floss the gums.
5. To clean each side between the two teeth, I press the floss on each side forming a crescent around the tooth and move the floss from the gum to the top of the tooth. I repeat this motion 2-3 times on each side of the tooth.
6. Before moving on to the next two teeth, I move the floss, unwinding the clean one from one hand and wrapping the used one in the other.
7. After this process is done on all the teeth, I rinse my mouth and brush my teeth.

Toothpaste has to be carefully chosen, based on our individual needs. Most toothpastes on the market are divided into the following categories:

Fluoride toothpaste: it is perfect against caries, causes teeth whitening and reduces the sensitivity of the gums. However, it must be rinsed well, because it can give a yellowish color to our teeth.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) toothpaste: it is very active against microbes, but it is not recommended for people with mouth ulcers and bad breath.

Tartar-control toothpaste: indicated for people with dental plaque, but causes tooth sensitivity.

Whitening toothpastes: should be used sparingly.

Herbal toothpastes: can be used for daily tooth brushing, provided they contain fluoride and are anti-plaque.

Medical toothpastes: only prescribed by your dentist.

Children’s toothpastes: in children up to 6 years of age, the fluoride content of the toothpaste should be reduced. After 6 years, children can use regular toothpaste.

The frequency of visits to the dental office for teeth cleaning depends on any damage that may have been caused to gum disease and the oral hygiene of the child. It is of the utmost importance that the person also takes care of their oral hygiene at home, brushing their teeth at least twice a day and using interdental brushes or floss. If the dentist has given the child specific instructions, it is absolutely necessary to follow them. Typically, a person with good oral hygiene should visit their dentist every 6-12 months.

The classic teeth cleaning procedure is simple and painless.

It has been shown that poor hygiene of the baby teeth also affects the health of the permanent teeth. Therefore, if the child has severe tooth decay, a special pediatric technique, pulpotomy, is used in order to avoid extraction of the tooth.

Pulpotomy is a type of endodontics treatment performed only in children, with the aim of saving the tooth from extraction. Children’s teeth have not fully erupted and so endodontics would be disastrous.

Pulpotomy is a method that respects the special characteristics of children’s teeth, but is also simpler and more accessible. More specifically:

• It requires only one visit
• It does not require special dentist-child collaboration
• It is done by a specialist pediatric dentist

The procedure is simple and takes place in one visit. The dentist should take a complete medical history, perform a clinical examination and take x- rays. It is very important that before the pulpotomy, the parents, as well as the child, understand the procedure and that all possible questions are answered. The tooth on which the pulpotomy will be performed is isolated with special tools and local anesthesia is administered. The specialist removes the upper part of the tooth’s nerve and leaves the rest of it be. The place where the nerve has been removed is covered with a special material to heal the area and keep the remaining nerve alive and intact.