CHILDREN’S DENTISTRY
FLUORIDE APPLICATION/ VARNISH
Fluoride varnish is a topical dental application that prevents tooth decay and strengthens the teeth.
It is recommended to children and adolescents who are at high risk of developing caries. It can be done 2-4 times in a year depending on the risk of caries.
FILLINGS
Dental fillings are type of restorative treatment to repair cavities, cracks or any minor chipping of the teeth.
Dental fillings help in preventing further damage to the tooth. They help in preserving the tooth structure, and restores chewing function. Decayed part of the tooth is removed and it is filled with composite or white colored material. Dental fillings for kids are usually white colored making it less prominent.
EXTRACTION
Generally, children lose their milk teeth naturally as the permanent teeth erupts. If there is delay in eruption of permanent tooth or if the milk teeth is present even after the eruption of its permanent successor teeth, dental extraction is required.
Severely decayed tooth that cannot be filled or fractured tooth also requires Dental extraction.
SPACE MAINTAINER
Space maintainers are used in children to maintain the space for permanent teeth to erupt.
They are used in conditions where the primary teeth are lost prematurely.
They are either removable or fixed depending on the condition.
PULP THERAPY AND CROWN
Pulp therapy is a treatment in which the tooth is preserved by treating the pulp. This is required when the pulp is infected by decay or damaged due to trauma.
Pulp therapy is also called root canal treatment. It is done in milk teeth and permanent teeth of kids. Even though the milk teeth falls out , it is required until the permanent develops , thus pulp therapy is done to preserve the tooth.
It is done under local anaesthesia. After completing pulp therapy , a crown is placed over the treated tooth to preserve the tooth.
SERIAL EXTRACTION
Serial extraction is planned extraction of the teeth in a particular sequence such that it guides the permanent teeth into more ideal position.
A careful diagnosis and investigations are required while performing serial extractions.
It involves extraction of primary teeth , sometimes permanent teeth.
HABIT BREAKING APPLIANCE
Children often develop habits such as thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, mouth breathing etc. these habits are natural , but if persistent can lead to dental issues.
So, habit breaking appliance are used in order to address the habits and promote healthy oral environment.
There are many appliances
• Thumb sucking appliance
• Tongue thrust appliance
• Tongue crib
• Lip bumpers
• Mouth guards
All these appliance varies depending on the child’s condition.