Paediatric Dentistry

Pediatric dentistry is a branch of dentistry that deals with the dental problems of infants, children, and teenagers. A child usually starts having their first tooth at the age of 6months. The primary teeth start shedding from 6-7 years of age. The primary teeth are susceptible to caries. Caries are the most common chronic disease that affects children. That’s why it’s important to take care of primary teeth.

At Madhav Multispecialty Dental Clinic, we provide special care to all our pediatric patients 

What all treatments do we provide to children?

1. Oral health exams.
2. Cleaning of teeth
3. Cavity fillings
4. Straightening of teeth
5. Management of dental and oral tissues injuries
6. Treatment of periodontal and gum problems in children.
7. Fluoride treatment for prevention of caries
8. Pulpectomy and pulpotomy

What are the most common reasons to see Paediatric Dentistry?

The most common problem for which the children visit our dental operatory is a pain in the primary tooth. This is because:

1. Children have high sugar content in the diet mostly because of the junk they consume.
2. In between munching: Munching in between meals is the most common reason for children to develop progressive caries that infect the dental pulp.
3. Inadequate care of the primary teeth: It’s difficult to develop a proper brushing routine for children. Frequent food impaction can cause recurrent caries.

Whenever dental caries reaches the pulp, it can cause a lot of trouble to the child.

The various symptoms of dental pulp infection are:

1. Severe pain in the tooth
2. Swelling around the tooth
3. Pus draining from the tooth
4. Pain that radiates to the ear or to the throat
5. Trouble eating from that side

What are the treatment options for a pulpal infection?

           The various treatment options for a tooth that has been infected are:

1. Indirect pulp capping
2. Pulpotomy
3. Pulpectomy
4. Extraction

Indirect pulp capping: This is done when the caries are very close to the pulp but pulp has not been exposed to the outside environment. The caries is cleaned and the tooth is disinfected. After that, a pulp soothing medicament containing calcium hydroxide is put and the tooth is left for observation for a few days. If it does not pain, a permanent filling is done over the tooth.

Pulpotomy: This is a conservative procedure that can be performed only in primary teeth. The pulp tissue from the crown portion of the tooth is removed and the pulp in the root portion is left like that. The tooth is then filled with intracanal medicament and a filling or a stainless steel crown can be given over it.

Pulpectomy: Pulpectomy is the procedure of root canal in children. Many parents have apprehensions about this procedure, but this is a very safe procedure. The primary teeth could be saved and used for eating.

Here is a detailed explanation of the steps involved in the procedure for a better understanding.

1. Examination and investigations: Whenever a child comes to us with any of the symptoms above, we thoroughly examine the child. We clinically assess the extent of caries. A radiographic examination is carried out. Depending upon the age of the child, the treatment plan is decided. A tooth should be saved if there is time for the permanent tooth to erupt.
2. Cleaning of the infected tooth: We understand that a child has many apprehensions. We make the child completely comfortable in the operatory before carrying out any dental procedure. We have a child-friendly operatory and our staff is well trained to be polite and patient with children.

             We clean the infected tooth completely with the help of irrigation solutions.

1. Filling the tooth: Since the primary tooth falls in due course of time, the tooth is filled with a material that easily resorbs and does not interfere with the eruption of the permanent tooth. The various materials used for the canal filling are zinc oxide eugenol, MTA, or calcium hydroxide.
2. Permanent filling: After the root canal is completed, the tooth is restored with a permanent filling.
3. Stainless steel or zirconia crown: Depending upon the shelf life of the primary tooth, we deliver a crown over it to make it completely functional.

Extraction

The decision of extracting an infected tooth depends upon:

1. Age of the patient: All permanent teeth have different eruption ages. If the infected primary tooth is about the fall, then we extract the tooth to provide relief to the patient.
2. Condition of the tooth: At times the tooth is so damaged that it cannot be saved by pulpectomy, so the tooth has to be extracted.

Why should we save the primary tooth and not extract it?

A primary tooth should be saved because it maintains the space for the erupting permanent tooth. It prevents the crowding and irregular eruption of the permanent teeth.

What should be done if the primary tooth is extracted?

We provide space maintainers in the place of missing primary teeth. A space maintainer can be removable or fixed. They are given in space created due to the shedding of the primary tooth and should be worn till the permanent tooth erupts.

Dr. Ritika Wadhwani diligently monitors and treats the child patients at the clinic. We understand your concerns and we ensure that we deliver the best to your children.

Madhav Multispecialty Dental Clinic provides the best pediatric treatments in Ulhasnagar.