Pediatric dental treatment

From the first milk tooth, the rule is: clean your teeth.

Initially, the little teeth clean the parents, later the children themselves may take over the toothbrush. However, for children aged 2-6 years, it is recommended to check after brushing. It is also advisable to clean the teeth after brushing in order to gradually give them responsibility for their teeth. As a guideline, as soon as children have mastered cursive writing, they should be able to brush their teeth independently. It is important to keep the milk teeth as long as possible, because they serve as placeholders for the permanent teeth.

However, just because the child refuses does not mean that teeth do not need to be brushed. The responsibility for the condition of the milk teeth and subsequently permanent teeth still lies with the parents.

When should you make your first Appointment?

The first visit to the dentist can or should take place from the age of 2. This is mainly to get acquainted and establish a positive first connection with the dentist. The age at which children really get to know and remember their first visit to the dentist is around the age of 3 or 4. At this age, the first children's dental treatment can already be carried out, if a caries devil should nevertheless have strayed. There are special children's tooth fillings for children's teeth, up to fissure sealing for the prevention of the first molars.

When to get braces ?

If malocclusions of the teeth or jaw are detected in childhood, they can be corrected by means of removable braces or invisible splints that support the growth of the jaw. The therapy of so-called habits such as thumb-sucking, tongue-pressing or tongue misalignment can, if detected early, prevent possible later malformations. Cooperation with speech therapists plays an important role here. Here, so-called myofunctional exercises (such as muscle training for the tongue and cheek muscles) are used to change the position of the tongue. This can have a positive effect on growth and improve or even prevent malocclusions.

The focus of pediatric dental treatment is thus on:

• the preservation of deciduous teeth
• the prevention of caries through correct oral hygiene instructions
• Early detection of tooth or jaw malocclusions

Once the children have gained confidence, even the most timid among them can be treated. In very difficult cases, where children cannot be expected to undergo treatment under normal conditions (in the case of numerous massively destroyed teeth), general anesthesia remains the last resort. To avoid the risks involved, it is important to take even small children to the dentist to familiarize them with the unfamiliar environment and to show them that there is no danger from the dentist. In this way, they slowly lose their fears and allow themselves to be looked into the mouth after just 1-2 visits. If one or the other "hole" should be found, there are small tricks of behavioral guidance to make the children voluntarily and of their own accord ready for the treatment, because dental fear does not have to be.

What are the sixes ?

They are the first permanent teeth in the dental arch, also called 6 year molars, because they erupt around the age of 6. Due to their rear position, they are often overlooked or not recognized as permanent teeth. As soon as they become visible, it's time to brush well.

How long should you use a pacifier?

It is essential to start leaving out the pacifier at the latest at the age of 3 (age 2-3) in order to avoid malocclusions of the teeth and jaws.

At which age does thumb sucking stop?

A persistent sucking habit should be remedied quickly. As with the pacifier, the sooner it is stopped, the better, otherwise it can have a lasting negative effect on the development of the teeth. In order to break the habit of thumb sucking, it is often advisable to switch to a pacifier, as this is easier to remove.