Oral health and hygiene in children is a constant worry for parents. Right from teething or even before that. Making sure the teeth erupt at the right age to making sure that the position of the teeth is right and free of any decay is something all parents will fuss about.

Developing good oral hygiene practices and having consultations with the dentist when needed will help to maintain good dental health. Sometimes to protect teeth and keep away dental concerns, some children will need to undergo dental procedures.

Cleaning

After checking the overall oral health of the child, dentists will conduct oral cleaning. This will help to remove plaque or tartar formation in the teeth. Children’s food usually contains more sugar in them. Be it milk, cereals or juices – which children consume as main food have high sugar content. This sugar will stick on to the teeth if it is not properly cleaned.

This food debris stays on the teeth surface and edges as a slimy substance. When it is not properly cleaned, it hardens to form tartar. 4-12 hours after brushing plaque formation can be seen in teeth. That is why brushing should be done twice a day.

Plaque formation in teeth can lead to many other dental problems in children. So to prevent this, children should be taught the importance of brushing. When they are old enough, flossing should also be done. As food stuck between teeth can be hard to remove and if unchecked can lead to tooth loss.

Cavities

Cavities are formed on the teeth due to bacterial action. Sugary food that children consume be it chocolates or candies or milk remain on the teeth surface. This invites bacterial action on food debris.

Bacteria release an acid that works on the dental enamel of the teeth. Enamel is the outer protective covering of the teeth. But the acid released by the bacteria will act on the protective enamel and erode it. The teeth become susceptible to damage.

When unchecked and untreated cavities are formed on the teeth. This can even damage the gum lining of the teeth. In the places where the enamel is damaged the cavities will spread and destroy the whole teeth.

Dentists will help to stop the cavities from developing, they will remove decay and seal the teeth. The interior of the teeth is cleaned and filled with a safe material to stop further damage. The teeth are restored structurally and functionally by this dental procedure.

Dental fillings

Cavity formation is stopped by dental fillings. These fillings mimic the colour of the teeth so the child who has undergone this procedure need not feel embarrassed. Tooth decay will eat away the tooth – this is stopped using dental fillings.

There are different types of fillings available. Some are metal fillings – gold or silver and which are durable and strong, where as there are others like the porcelain fillings that are similar in colour to the natural teeth. These fillings will help to build the tooth structure and function as normal. Further decay is avoided by this procedure.

If this procedure is not performed, then decay will spread and can lead to pain in the mouth, loss of the tooth, disrupted speech. After consultation with the dentist, parents can decide which type of filling is suited for their child and opt for the same. Children should also be included in these sessions if they are old enough to understand the procedure. This will help them from feeling anxious about the treatment.

Dental crowns

Restoring teeth that is badly damaged decayed is possible by dental crowns. When there is extensive damage many would think it is better to pull out the tooth. As permanent teeth will replace the milk teeth in children. But primary teeth also perform an important function – that of making sure there is proper teeth development.

If there is a space because of loss of teeth, other teeth can slide into this position and when permanent teeth develop, they will be crowded due to lack of space. Besides this, they also help a child in proper speech and also would bring down confidence level if they are losing one of their front teeth.

The infection in the teeth can also spread to neighbouring teeth and gums – hence the need for proper consultation if there is such a situation. If the teeth are badly damaged, stainless steel crowns are considered. There are also other options available. They are placed as ‘crowns’ on top of the damaged teeth and protect it.

Teeth Extractions

Cavity formation is seen in most children, but extraction or tooth removal is considered as an option when the decay is severe. If the teeth can’t be saved by other dental procedures, then it is removed. If the primary tooth is removed and the permanent teeth will take time to erupt, then spacers are used. These spacers will help to ‘hold’ the space for the permanent teeth.

Extractions are also done in children if there are too many teeth. The crowded teeth will not have enough space and because of being crowded, it is easy for food debris to get stuck between them. Some dentists will suggest removing teeth if such is the situation. This extraction will help in providing proper alignment to the teeth.

Given above are only some of the common dental procedures for children, but depending on the dental health other procedures are also conducted in dental clinics. The focus and aim of all the dental procedures are maintaining good oral and dental health in children and making sure they have a ‘good set’ of teeth. It is important children are taught the importance of oral health and also the need to follow healthy food habits – as both these play a vital role in the dental health of a child.