Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Pediatric Dentistry

  • When should I start brushing my baby's teeth?

  • Brushing babies should be done from the moment the first milk tooth comes out. The most suitable tool for brushing the teeth in the back area until they emerge are finger brushes, which you can easily find in pharmacies. Afterwards, this process should be continued with a toothbrush appropriate for the child's age. Teeth should be brushed by parents or caregivers at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, after breakfast in the morning and before going to sleep at night.

  • How should I choose toothbrush and paste in child oral care?

  • How should I choose toothbrush and paste in child oral care?

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  • A soft-bristled toothbrush may be preferred depending on the child's age and the size of his mouth. For hygiene reasons, the toothbrush should be changed every three months. For children under 2 years of age, brushing with fluoride toothpaste equal to the size of a grain of rice is recommended due to the risk of swallowing toothpaste. For children aged 2-6, it is recommended to use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. It is important to brush teeth twice a day and under parental supervision.

  • When should the first dental examination be performed?

  • Babies should be within 1 year of the eruption of the first milk tooth. It is appropriate to bring them to the dentist. In this way, dental problems can be taken under control before they occur. Families can be informed about many issues such as oral care in babies and the effects of nutrition on caries formation. Dentist check-ups are continued at regular intervals depending on the child's caries risk group.

  • When does dentition begin in children?

  • Milk teeth usually start to appear when the baby is six months old. The eruption of milk teeth is completed at approximately 3 years of age. During this period, there are 20 milk teeth in the mouth. Milk teeth are more prone to wear and decay due to their structural differences. At the age of 6, milk teeth begin to be replaced by permanent teeth. This situation continues until the average age of 13. Existing caries in milk teeth also negatively affect the health of newly erupting permanent teeth.

  • What is baby bottle tooth decay?

  • Bottle bottle tooth decay occurs especially when the child consumes milk or food before going to sleep. These are early childhood caries caused by diet. Eating carbohydrate-rich foods after teeth eruption causes caries.

  • What should be done to prevent bottle tooth decay?

  • Preventing the baby from sleeping with a bottle is the first precaution to be taken. Sweeteners such as honey, sugar, and molasses should not be added to the food in the bottle. After night feeding, if possible, the baby should be given water to drink and his mouth should be wiped with a wet cheesecloth. After the first teeth erupt, teeth should be brushed with a finger brush and a fluoride toothpaste the size of a grain of rice, and the baby's first dentist check-up should be done.

  • Should baby teeth be treated?

  • Milk teeth are as important as permanent teeth. Decayed teeth cause pain and negatively affect many daily activities such as eating, concentrating and sleeping. Untreated decayed primary teeth can lead to inflammatory conditions and the development of infectious diseases that can affect general health. Milk teeth that are lost or extracted prematurely may cause problems such as crookedness or impaction in permanent teeth.

  • Should the space of extracted milk teeth be preserved?

  • The milk tooth acts as a placeholder for the permanent tooth that will come after it. In order not to lose the space occupied by a milk tooth extracted before the normal time of falling out, the spaces created after extraction should be protected. These spaces can be protected with devices called "space maintainers".

  • What is a space maintainer?

  • A space maintainer replaces milk teeth that are lost before their normal time for any reason. These are fixed or removable appliances that are applied until the permanent teeth erupt to prevent space loss. These appliances are made specifically for the child's mouth by dental technicians by taking oral measurements. They can be fixed or mobile. Fixed appliances are bonded to existing teeth in the mouth. They do not cause cavities or gum problems. Removable appliances are removable devices. It should be removed while eating. After meals, the tooth should be brushed and placed back in the mouth.

  • What should be done after the placeholder is made? What should be taken into consideration?

  • Sticky foods (such as chewing gum, jelly beans, Turkish delight) should be avoided. Since such foods will exert a force on the appliance moving away from the mouth, they may cause the appliance to come out of place. Placeholders should be brushed regularly. Removable space maintainers should be inserted and removed as prescribed by the physician. The length of time the appliances remain in the mouth is specified by the physician. During this process, regular check-ups should be made with the dentist.

  • Who can have dental treatments under general anesthesia?

  • Those who have any systemic or mental problems and need dental treatments It is possible to perform the necessary dental treatments under general anesthesia for children who cannot comply adequately during treatment.

  • How should oral and dental health be protected in disabled individuals?

  • Disabled children maintain their oral and dental health and They may not be able to perform personal care fully or effectively. For this reason, parental or caregiver assistance becomes important in certain matters. Teeth should be cleaned after every meal, if not with a brush, then with cheesecloth. It is recommended to reduce sugar and starch-containing foods in their diet and not to consume such foods during snacks. Routine checks every three months are important to reduce the risk of caries in disabled individuals.

  • What is fissure sealant, to whom is it applied?

  • Fissure sealant is a protective method applied to molars in children. is the application. By applying to the pits and fissures in the molars, it prevents food accumulation in these areas and provides isolation of these areas that are prone to decay. This application, which does not require any abrasion on the teeth, can be easily applied to teeth that are caries-free and have completed their eruption before four years.

  • What is fluoride application and to whom is it applied?

  • For the prevention of caries and the prevention of initial caries. It is a protective practice applied for the purpose of progression. In line with the doctor's recommendation and depending on the child's caries risk profile, fluoride application can be applied in three or six month periods.

     

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