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It is said that children are our future. We need to address children's needs to make sure we have a future with healthy mouths and cooperating patients.
It's absolutely normal and understandable that children might show signs of anxiety with their first visit to the dentist. We advise patients to bring children along when they visit their dentist/oral hygienist for their regular check-ups. From an early age the child gets used to the routine of going to the dentist and will show less signs of anxiety or fear, when it's their turn.
Children can usually only cooperate in the chair from the age of three to four years, when they have the cognitive ability to understand the reason for visiting the dentist. At their first appointment we will only introduce them to the environment and perhaps a clean or polish of the teeth. |
Making it a six-monthly habit, you overcome their fear of an unknown/unfamiliar environment, making it a lot easier to perform actual dental work, when necessary. In more serious cases where a lot of restorative work needs to be done, or with a very anxious or traumatised child, we will consider taking the child to theatre, where general anaesthetic will be used under the supervision of an anaesthetist.
At the average age of six months the first primary/milk or deciduous teeth start to erupt. By the age of 2,5 to 3 years, toddlers should have all their milk/primary teeth ie 20 teeth. Some of these primary teeth (primary molars) only exfoliate at the age of 10 to 12 years, making it a good reason to take good care of these teeth. |
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| Primary tooth caries |
Primary tooth restored |
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If a child loses these teeth too early, drifting of the other teeth can close up spaces, resulting in space shortages for the eruption of permanent teeth and ultimately result in skewed teeth. It is advisable that children should practise a good oral regime from an early age. Teeth need to be brushed (usually by the parents) as soon as they have erupted. There are numerous brands of toothpastes and toothbrushes on the market, especially formulated for children. As with good oral hygiene practices, teeth should also be brushed twice daily ie mornings and at night.
Questions frequently asked by parents
Q – When do the permanent teeth erupt/when does my child lose his first milk tooth?
A – The first permanent tooth will erupt at the age of +/- 6 (there are, however, children who start to lose teeth at the age of five and some only at the age of seven, making it impossible to predict the precise time of eruption). The bottom front teeth are usually the first to start the journey to the tooth fairy/tooth mouse.
Q – Do we need to brush milk teeth?
A – Definitely yes. Your child should brush twice daily or as a parent you should brush his / her teeth when they are too young to do it themselves.
Q – What is baby bottle caries?
A – Baby bottle caries exist when we have carious/decayed teeth because of teeth being exposed for long periods (especially at night time) to the contents of a bottle, where sugar is usually the main ingredient. This results in extensive decay which is especially visible on the front top teeth. It is advisable that a child should be weaned off from a bottle at the age of two.
Q – How often should my child visit the dentist?
A – At least every six months.
Q – What are fissure sealants?
A – Fissures or grooves on the biting (occlusal) surfaces of molars (back chewing teeth) are sealed to prevent caries/decay.
Q – Can milk teeth be saved or should they be removed when they’ve developed a cavity?
A – Procedures like fillings and the removal of a tooth’s nerve (pulpotomy) can be done on milk teeth in order to save them and is advisable as discussed earlier.
Q – What is the ideal age to consider having braces done?
A – It all depends on the malocclusion (jaw relationship) of the child. Most of the time braces (fixed banding) are only considered when all the permanent teeth are present. But various orthodontic appliances (plates) can be considered to stimulate or alter the growth at an early age already or even to correct a minor malocclusion.
Q – Should I give my child fluoride supplements?
A – We advise that children should not receive any fluoride supplements before their permanent front teeth have erupted. The amount of fluoride intake is difficult to determine (there is fluoride in food, water and toothpaste), and excessive intake can result in visible white spots on the teeth. In severe cases these spots may turn brown.
Adhering to the above practises and setting a good example from an early age, should prevent a traumatic experience for your child at the dentist and guarantee healthy teeth for longer.
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