Pedodontics (Pediatric Dentistry) is a branch of dentistry that aims to protect the milk and permanent teeth of children aged 0 to 13, as well as to prevent problems caused by decay, trauma, hereditary, and other causes in these teeth.

How should children get dental care?

Babies start from the 6th month until the age of 3, and a total of 20 milk teeth are completed in the mouth. Getting the child into the habit of regular brushing should start as early as possible. It is ideal that brushing is done by the parents until the preschool age. However, in order for the child to gain self-confidence in this regard, the child should be encouraged to brush their teeth after the actual brushing. There are two methods of preventing the decay of milk teeth. The first of these is topical fluoride application and the other is fissure sealant (dental nail polish) application.

Why do children’s teeth decay?
Milk teeth are more susceptible to disease and decomposition because they contain more organic material than regular teeth. Children are unable to quickly identify signs of caries, such as sensitivity and moderate discomfort, that can be detected in the early stages. They only become aware of the incident when the agony becomes intolerable, at which point it could be too late. Children are unable to provide oral hygiene the same attention as adults. The child’s manual dexterity, interest, and attitude toward cleaning their teeth are determining factors.
Using a pacifier or bottle with sugar, jam, etc. is one of the blunders moms do regularly. They are given to children by dipping them into foods such as sugary milk and fruit juice between sleep. Thus, the teeth become susceptible to decay due to nutritional irregularities.

How can dental caries be prevented in children?

Today, thanks to advances in modern dentistry, it is easy to protect teeth from decay. One of the most effective applications in preventing dental caries is fissure sealants. This application, also known as dental nail polish, is an ideal method for your children.

What is topical fluoride application?
Fluoride is the most effective substance used to make teeth resistant to decay as long as it is in certain proportions. This substance is especially abundant in toothpastes. However, since children cannot brush properly, topical fluoride application should be made in the mouth. In this way, a sufficient amount of fluoride is stored on the teeth and the structure of the teeth is strengthened and made resistant to caries.

The gel-like fluoride is placed in a spoon of suitable size in the child’s mouth and left in the mouth for 3-4 minutes. This process is done separately for the lower and upper jaws and it is beneficial to repeat it 3-4 times a year.

The fact that this procedure is painless and does not require anesthesia plays a very important role in overcoming the child’s fear of dentists and helps to increase the sympathy of the dentist.

What is fissure sealant and how is it applied?

Fissure sealant is a fluid consistency substance that covers the chewing surfaces of the molars and protects the teeth against caries. Since the enamel is not fully mature when the teeth are first erupted, newly erupted teeth are generally less resistant to caries and prone to caries formation.

The best time to apply fissure sealant is in the first months when these teeth erupt. Your child’s first teeth, milk teeth, can be protected against caries with fissure sealants. It should not be forgotten that dental caries, especially in children, young teeth that have just erupted progress very quickly, so it is very important to apply fissure sealants without losing time.

Fissure sealant is applied to the tooth and hardened with the help of blue light (ray filling device). All these processes take approximately 3-5 minutes. It lasts and your child does not feel pain during the procedure. After the fissure sealant application, your child can eat and drink immediately if he/she wants.

Fissure sealants can wear down over time, however, studies have proven that they remain on the teeth at a rate of 85% – 90% even after years. Teeth grinding and frequent consumption of hard foods can cause fissure sealants to break and fall off more quickly. The better the bond strength of fissure sealants to the tooth enamel during application, the longer the remaining life on the tooth will be.