Six Vital Treatments at a Pediatric Dentistry Office

Pediatric dentistry treatments can correct any dental problem your child may have. Seeing the dentist first can determine the right path to take. Modern dentistry offers several treatments that can help your child, no matter their concern.

Pediatric dentistry treatments

Here are the details if you want to know more about the different pediatric dentistry treatments available.

1. Fluoride treatments

These preventive treatments aim to shield the child's teeth against bacteria, sugars, and starch. At home, a child can get fluoride from tap water, mouthwash, and toothpaste. At the dental clinic, the dentist can provide fluoride treatments. After a thorough dental cleaning, the dentist will apply some fluoride foam, gel, or varnish to the child's teeth. Fluoride can strengthen and protect the child's teeth from infection and erosion.

2. Dental sealants

A dentist can apply dental sealants on a child's molars or chewing surfaces. Temporary and permanent molars can both receive this treatment. The sealants prevent food particles and plaque from getting stuck to the fissures and grooves of the chewing surfaces. Dental sealants are a painless pediatric dentistry procedure, so the child does not need to be worried about discomfort of any kind.

3. Dental extraction

Although rare, dental extractions may be necessary for pediatric dentistry patients. The dentist may need to remove a severely decayed baby tooth and replace it with a space maintainer. When it comes to permanent teeth, the dentist will do everything to keep them intact.

The dentist may also need to extract some teeth if the child suffers from overcrowding. Improving the position of the other teeth will require more room. The braces will reposition the remaining teeth to fill the spaces of the extracted ones, resulting in a faster teeth-straightening process.

4. Dental fillings

Dental fillings are a common pediatric dentistry treatment. This treatment aims to repair damaged teeth due to cavity formation. Dentists often numb the area first and then administer nitrous oxide, which calms the patient. Grinding and removing the decayed areas will follow. Cleaning, disinfecting, and drying them will come next. Then, the dentist will fill the cavities with tooth-colored fillings that blend with the neighboring teeth.

5. Pulpotomy

The dentist may recommend this treatment after significant decay or an injury. This treatment is for an isolated problem at the crown pulp. The dentist may only remove the decayed tooth parts and the damaged or infected pulp. Filling the space with a biocompatible material will be next. Doing so soothes the pulp root and prevents infection. The dentist then finishes the treatment with a dental crown for protection and support.

6. Dental cleanings

Most kids are used to this pediatric dentistry procedure. This thorough cleaning must start as soon as the first tooth emerges. Cleanings will make up most of the child's first dental appointments. The dentist will use these visits to check for potential problems as well.

After the first pediatric dentistry visit, the child must see the dentist every six months. The dentist will determine when the dental cleanings will start. Introducing the child to the different dental cleaning tools can help ease the child's anxieties and fears about the procedure. Good introductions can result in faster and smoother dental cleanings. Then, the dentist can brush, scrape, and polish the child's teeth without issue.