What Are the Duties of a Pediatric Dentist? | Blog
Our Dentistry by Sea Bridge treats children with dental problems throughout their adolescent years. The field of dentistry has over nine specialty fields, and pediatric dentistry is among them.
Not all dentists can perform children’s procedures because utmost care is needed when it comes to children. Children are sensitive than adults, so they need special tools, special care, and even gentler procedures. Pediatric dentists have undergone a 2-year training towards this specialty.
Additionally, they have training in child psychology, so they can easily communicate with children.
You should take your child to see a pediatric dentist in Oxnard, CA, for the reasons listed below.
Diagnosis through X-rays
Generally, children need dental x-rays more than adults. Their mouths are rapidly growing, and x-rays best show signs of weaknesses in their teeth structure, invisible to the naked human eye. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, children should receive x-ray exams every six months, especially for children highly exposed to decay risks.
Dental Cleanings
During a dental visit, your dentist reviews the child’s medical history and dental condition with you. Your child’s mouth is thoroughly cleaned for the removal of excess plaque and tartar likely present.
Plaque and tartar are hazardous agents for cavities and dental decay. The pediatrist applies a fluoride treatment on the cleaned teeth to strengthen the enamel against the effects of decay.
Fluoride Treatment
Cavities occur when the tooth enamel is weak. Fluoride treatment facilitates remineralization of the tooth enamel, which helps to prevent cavities and later decay. Some water bodies naturally contain low-level fluoride, and also in some household products like toothpaste, some bottled water, and mouthwashes.
During the appointment, your dentist in Oxnard, CA, examines your child’s teeth development to determine the right amount of fluoride needed. Excess fluoride can damage the teeth, causing fluorosis. A fluoride deficit exposes the teeth to the risks of decay.
Tooth Cavities
Mouth cavities are seen as a progressive disease that develops very early in milk teeth. Bacteria in the mouth reacts with sugars present in sugary foods anddrinks, creating an acid that slowly wears the enamel of your child’s teeth. It could also affect the gum tissue.
The eaten away parts of the enamel then become tooth cavities and can cause irreversible pulp damage, necessitating tooth extraction.
For cavities, early treatment is key. The cavity should be sealed using a range of tooth-colored fillings as soon as it is identified. A stainless-steel crown, pulpotomy nerve therapy, or tooth extraction may be recommended for very deep cavities. To prevent cavities and decay, have your child effectively brush and floss their teeth every day.
Early Orthodontic Care
It’s never too early for your child to begin orthodontic care—the pediatrist checks for crowded teeth and bite problems present in the child’s mouth. They are then actively intervened before they develop into anything serious, requiring more intensive and costlier treatments later.
Sealants
Sealants are thin tooth-colored coating supplied on the back teeth’s chewing surfaces and effectively prevent tooth decay. The pit and grooves on the chewing teeth can easily collect plaque and tartar and are the most susceptible to tooth cavities and decay in children.
Sealants and fluoride work in harmony to prevent tooth decay in baby teeth. With proper maintenance, newly applied tooth sealants can last between five to ten years.
Extractions
Yes, the pediatric dentist can perform tooth extractions. However, tooth removal is usually the last resort where there is severe tooth decay. After removing a primary tooth, the dentist in Oxnard, CA, replaces it with a space maintainer.
Tooth extractions are done for several reasons, including facilitating tooth alignment in case of crowded teeth andmaintaining a correctspacing for your child’s yet-to-grow permanent teeth.
