Pediatric dentistry from 0 to 12 years old
Checking children’s mouths is as important as that of adults, and we should not get carried away by the misconception that baby, temporary or deciduous teeth are not important and that nothing happens if they have cavities or are lost. In fact, it is essential to keep these first teeth healthy since they are responsible for maintaining the space for the permanent teeth, and infections derived from baby teeth can affect the color and shape of the permanent teeth. For this reason, we always recommend our parents to bring their children to us from the age of 2 or 3 years old for regular check-ups every 6 months or so to rule out cavities and other problems.
Pediatric dentistry treatments for children:
We usually perform preventive treatments such as fluoridation or sealants and teach parents and children how they can start with daily oral hygiene to keep their teeth healthy and strong. Among the treatments that children usually need for baby teeth are fillings (or obturations), pulpotomies (when the nerve is affected), extractions or space maintainers (to preserve the space of the permanent tooth after early extractions). In children’s permanent teeth, fillings, cleanings or even endodontics and reconstructions may be necessary.
We always recommend checking the occlusion (or “bite”) of children when they are around 6 years old and have all their milk teeth, at which time the growth of the facial bones that house the teeth is not yet definitive, and our orthodontist can carry out a Dentofacial Orthopedic treatment with different functional appliances and anchors to stop excessive growth of the jaw, stimulate the growth of the maxillary bones, expand the palate… and other movements that, once growth is complete, we will no longer be able to carry out. In children, it is also very important to detect and treat certain habits that can interfere with the position of the permanent or definitive teeth, such as atypical or infantile swallowing, sucking on one or more fingers, etc.
We often work side by side with the speech therapist, the ENT specialist and other medical specialists to ensure that our children grow up healthy in the mouth and in the rest of the body.