What is Pedodontics?

Pedodontics is a word of Latin origin, meaning “children’s teeth”. Pedodontics (Pediatric Dentistry) is the treatment for the healthy preservation of milk and permanent teeth of children aged 0-12.

Deciduous teeth usually begin to erupt in the 6th month after birth, and a total of 20 primary teeth are completed by the age of 2.5; milk teeth show structural and anatomical differences compared to permanent teeth, and these differences make them resistant to caries and abrasion. Even though the most important function of these milk teeth is to feed the child, they also fulfill the tasks of speech, aesthetics and space for the permanent teeth to follow. Decayed milk teeth cause pain and malnutrition due to pain during feeding in the child, while at the same time they lose size and cannot hold enough space for permanent teeth, which may lead to future space limitations.

Permanent teeth begin to erupt from the age of 6, and until the age of 12, there are both milk and permanent teeth in the oral environment. Treatment of newly erupted permanent teeth can be differentiated from mature permanent teeth and this requires expertise. The endodontist monitors children’s oral and dental health, as well as their jaw and facial development, starting from infancy. Performs all preventive and curative treatment and protective procedures according to needs.

Who Is A Pedodontist?

Pedodontist or pediatric dentist is a dentist who has received a specialty or doctorate training in the Department of Pedodontics, affiliated to the Clinical Sciences of the Faculty of Dentistry,

What Do Pedodontist Do?

• They ensure that children do not have a fear of dentists (dental phobia) and turn dental treatment into an enjoyable game for children.
• They determine the caries risk group of the child and organizes personal protective programs.
• Informs both the child and the family about oral and dental care in children.
• They regulate the child’s eating habits.
• They Arrange and apply preventive applications that can be applied before tooth decay occurs. (Fissure Sealant, Fluorine Applications)
• Perform restorative and endodontic treatments of deciduous and young permanent teeth. (Fillings, Root canal treatments, Amputations)
• They check the regular progress of the child’s jaw and tooth development.
• Perform preventive orthodontic treatments.
• Provide treatments for stopping bad oral habits. (Finger sucking, Nail biting, Pen biting etc.)
• They make the extraction of milk teeth and, if necessary, placeholder and child prosthesis.
• If the child has experienced a dental trauma, he/she carries out the follow-ups and treatments.
• Perform dental treatment of children who require special attention under sedation or general anesthesia in operating room conditions.

The main treatment methods:

• placeholders
• Child prostheses
• Tooth extraction
• Dental trauma treatments
• Endodontic treatments
• Restorative treatments in primary and permanent teeth
• Preventive measures against tooth decay (fissure sealant, fluoride gel, etc.)
• Prevention of oral habits (finger sucking, nail biting, etc.)

Protective Practices Applied To Children

The most important of Pedodontics; are preventive and protective applications against tooth decay, preventive treatments in tooth decay, protect the oral and dental health of children, prevent serious oral and dental health problems that may occur in later ages; The treatments we apply in pediatric dentistry are done to prevent the formation of caries and to ensure that the teeth continue to function in a healthy way.

While fluoride and fissure sealant applications are widely preferred in preventive dental treatment in terms of preventing the formation of dental problems; it is also important to raise awareness of children’s eating habits, oral and dental care in preventing caries formation.

Fissure Sealant and Fluoride Applications

Fissure sealant dental treatment provides the prevention of bacteria in this area by closing the grooves on the surface of permanent teeth that may cause decay. With fissure sealant treatment, dental caries are covered with a fluid filling material; dental health is also protected for a long time.

After the fissure sealant application, the child should be checked at least every 6 months; Thanks to the fluoride application applied for a similar purpose with the fissure sealant, the tooth structure is strengthened.

The tooth is protected against acid attacks, thus preventing caries formation to a large extent. Pediatric dentistry practices should be performed by a pediatric dentist specialized in this field.

Pedodontic Zirconium Crowns

When there is too much material loss in the teeth, zirconium crown treatment, commonly known as “coating”, is applied, and it is also widely used in aesthetic dental treatments.

In the field of Pedodontics, zirconium is applied to prevent problems that may occur in milk teeth in children. Often neglected milk teeth affect the health of permanent teeth; is the foundation of the child’s oral and dental health; for this reason, it is necessary for parents to have their children’s dental health checked regularly in order to prevent future problems.

Zirconium crowns are specially produced for children and performed by dentists who are experts in their field.

When Should The First Visit To The Dentist Be?

Children should be taken to the dentist for a check-up after the first tooth eruption, after which a visit to the dentist should be repeated every 6 months for a check-up. The clinical examination of the child by the dentist has two stages.

Step 1: Extra oral Examination

In the head-face examination, the size, shape and proportions of this region are observed.

Step 2: Intraoral Examination

This examination includes the examination of the teeth and soft tissues while the mouth is open, and the observations made when the teeth are in the closing position.