What is Pediatric Dentistry?
Pediatric dentistry is the specialty of dentistry that is responsible for caring for and treating children's oral problems.
A pediatric dentist is the specialist in charge of exploring and treating the mouths of the little ones.
Laura Fernández Dental Clinic, has two pediatric dentists:
Clara Serna Muñoz
Vocation pediatric dentistry, sweet, calm and safe in the treatment of our smallest patients.
Mar Hernandez Lopez
Meticulous and perfectionist in her diagnoses and treatments for our child patients.
- Treat cavities and their complications in children's teeth.
- Detect possible anomalies in the position of the jaws or teeth.
- Solve problems caused by trauma to the mouth.
- Seal pits and fissures of the molars, in order to avoid possible future cavities.
We accompany your child in their oral development
You drink
From 0 to 6 years old, we carry out check-ups and treatments. We treat the most common oral pathologies in babies, such as baby bottle cavities, white tongue, canker sores or mouth-hand-foot syndrome. In addition, we monitor the health and dental hygiene of the baby and advise parents so that they know how to do it at home.
Children
From 6 to 12 years old, we basically do the same check-ups and treatments, adapting to the age, situation and habits that the child has acquired up to now. The most common childhood oral pathologies at this stage are caries, pulpitis, gingivitis, frenulum surgery, halitosis, dental trauma or bruxism, among others. The prevention of caries is another of our objectives, for which we use techniques such as fluoridation and sealing. At the end of this stage in children, we also begin to treat malocclusions with orthodontics.
Teenagers
Treatments in Pediatric Dentistry
Cavities
The treatment of childhood caries will be different if the tooth is milk or permanent. It will also vary if the caries only affects the enamel or has reached the dentin and pulp.
We can find the following cases:
- If the tooth is temporary and there is no involvement of the pulp, a filling (filling) will be made that will maintain the integrity of the tooth until it is time to replace it.
- If, on the contrary, the infection has reached the nervous tissue, depending on the degree of involvement, a pulpotomy or a pulpectomy must be performed, extracting the affected part of the pulp.
- Only the affected tooth is extracted when there is no other option. If the tooth is a milk tooth and it has to be extracted, a small space-maintaining appliance will have to be placed, so that the space does not close and the final tooth can occupy its correct place without problems.
pulpotomies and pulpectomies
Pulpotomy is one of the treatments that is performed when a temporary tooth has the pulp (nerve) inflamed or exposed due to a blow to the tooth or a large cavity.
The pulpectomy is similar to the pulpotomy, but it is performed in cases where the lesion is greater and the complete removal of the pulp (including that of the roots of the tooth) is necessary. It is a treatment similar to endodontics that we do in adults.
Pediatric Metal Crown Dental Restoration. As a final part of the treatment, when a pulpotomy or pulpectomy is performed on a milk tooth, the tooth is hollowed out and weakened, so it is not enough to just fill the hole. It will be necessary to reinforce the walls of the tooth and seal its interior with a small steel sheath or crown that helps to preserve the treated tooth.
dental trauma in children
Today dental injuries are the second most common reason why children go to the dentist, only behind cavities.
- Fracture: Depending on the severity, it may affect only the enamel of the tooth, the dentin or the nerve. In less severe cases, reconstruction of the tooth may be sufficient. On some occasions the nerve will have been affected and a pulpectomy will have to be done. In others, it may be necessary to remove it completely.
- pulp necrosis: If after a blow the tooth turns gray or brown, it is becoming necrotic. In these cases it is also necessary to go to the dental clinic as soon as possible.
- tooth loss: Sometimes the total loss of the tooth can occur. In these cases, a different action will be taken depending on whether it is a milk tooth or a permanent one.
fluoridation
Fluoridation is the procedure by which fluoride is applied to children's teeth to prevent the appearance of cavities. Fluoride increases the resistance of tooth enamel to acids produced by plaque bacteria. It is a preventive treatment that is indicated in patients with a tendency to suffer cavities. Fluoride is an ideal complement to dental cleaning, to help prevent deterioration and wear of teeth, as it has antibacterial agents.
Why is fluoridation recommended in children?
The topical application of fluoride in high concentrations strengthens the enamel of the child's teeth and makes them more resistant to decay and demineralization. According to the WHO, fluoridation reduces the risk of suffering cavities by up to 50%.
pre-orthodontics
- Preventive preortoncia: Eliminate habits that can lead to future malocclusion (such as prolonged use of a pacifier or bottle, thumb sucking,...).
- Interceptive pre-orthodontics: The one that corrects a malocclusion when it is beginning to appear. Action is taken promptly to prevent the problem from becoming more serious and more difficult to correct in the future. Resin tracks or bite lifts are used, without the need to use appliances.
- dentofacial orthopedics: We act on the maxilla or mandible, causing the malocclusion, slowing down or favoring their growth. (chin guards, face masks, etc.)
- functional treatments: Sometimes, due to the action of the muscles or the tongue, dental alterations occur and in this specialty a series of exercises are worked on that the patient must perform at home to avoid or modify these habits and thus correct them to prevent them from being more serious. (tongue thrust, labial thrust, swallowing, oral breathing...)
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