• Habit breaking appliances
  
• Pit and fissure sealants
• Space management
• Fluoride applications
• Pulpotomy/ Pulpectomy and crowns

 

Child first Dental visit

According to American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry the child should be brought to the dentist when he turns 1 year old. By that time the first teeth comes and the dentist can discuss ways of keeping oral hygiene. A dentist can guide the parents about diet, tooth eruption, finger habits, fluoride etc.

 

 

How many visits are recommended?

According to American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry the child should be brought twice a year to the dental clinic .The visits may vary if the child has tooth decay, bad oral hygiene, and unusual teeth growth.

Importance of Milk/baby teeth

Baby teeth are not permanent but they are very important. They help the child to crew food, smile properly and speak clearly. Baby teeth hold the space for permanent teeth. If child looses teeth at an early age because of decay/ damage the nearby teeth can encroach that free space which can result in misplaced/crooked permanent teeth.

What are dental sealants?

Sealants are the best way to avoid cavities. They cover the deep grooves and fissures in the teeth. Sealants are susceptible to decays and are very difficult to brush off. Sealants are very effective and safe for children teeth, especially molars.

Does sucking thumb cause any problem in the teeth?

The child should stop sucking thumb before the eruption of permanent teeth. If this habit continues, consult dentist immediately.

 

Dental Care for Special Needs Children

Special skill sets are needed in managing and treating children with special needs, who may have difficulty in motor coordination or in comprehending instructions. Our pediatric dentists are trained to provide caring treatment for children (and adults) with special needs. They are intuitively sensitive and caring when treating differently enabled children and you can be assured that your child is in safe hands. Usually, special needs children require general anesthesia even for routine dental procedures. Our highly trained and qualified anesthesiologists will ensure your child’s comfort without the use of any physical restraints. The dental treatment can then be carried out as a day care procedure and may even be completed in a single visit.

 

 

Do’s and Dont’s for child’s successful dental visit

Do’s

• Tell your child that you are visiting a friend/ “uncle/aunty” who is also a doctor who likes children and he may just check his/her teeth
• Tell him/her that getting teeth examined regularly will protect the teeth and help find problems – like cavities (black spots on teeth) – at an early stage
• If possible both parents should accompany the child on the first visit
• Allow sufficient time for our doctor to talk to your child. The time spent in establishing rapport and gaining confidence will save time during treatment as he/she will be more cooperative with the his/her doctor “friend”
• 85-90% of children cooperate for all dental treatments. Inculcate a positive attitude towards dentistry from an early age in your child
• Bring your child’s complete medical records (including immunization status) for our assessment.
• Should your child require a dental procedure we will normally explain in detail about the treatment, including preventive and post treatment follow up measures. If you do not understand something, please insist on a more detailed or less technical explanation. We will be happy to oblige. Your child’s dental health is our primary concern too!

Don’ts

• Do not tell your child about pain, blood, injection, etc. We will gently break it to him/her if the dental procedure warrants it.
• If your child pesters you with his/her fears about the visit, it is better to side step with an indirectly reply assuring them that “doctor uncle/aunty will do the best thing for you”. Do not mislead him/her about the time the treatment will take. Simply say you don’t know.
• Do not threaten your child with statements like “because you do not brush your teeth properly, doctor will give you an injection!” OR “because you eat chocolates your spoilt teeth will be removed by doctor”. This may result in inducing fear in your child for the dental visit and in later years could result in dental anxiety or phobia.
• Do not insist that the treatment should start on the first visit itself. Your child needs to get comfortable with the dental visit and may require some time to prepare himself/herself. We will advice you after interacting with your child.
• Do not voice your fears about the pain, blood etc in front of your child.
• Discuss these separately with us and we will give you an accurate assessment of what to expect.
• Avoid dental appointments during naptimes or when they are tired
• Do not bribe them with a gift prior to the appointment. You may reward good behavior in the clinic after the visit.
• Your child is a raucous bundle of joy and energy! Do not expect perfect visits, also do not complain about him/her to the doctor in front of your child. Discuss your concerns separately with us.