Whether to treat milk teeth. Is it necessary to treat milk teeth: advice from a dentist

No organ in the body can be called unnecessary. So, since milk teeth appear in a person and function in the first years of life, they are necessary. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor and care for them in the same way as for permanent ones.

The baby's immunity is quite weak and unstable to many infections, because he had not met them before. Therefore, a bad tooth is not only an excellent environment for the development of bacteria, but also a direct threat to the health of the child. The fact is that the toxins produced by microbes are very quickly absorbed into the blood, cause intoxication of the body and lead to diseases of the internal organs.

In addition, many adults who have experienced toothache are well aware of the discomfort that damage to the enamel, inflammation or increased sensitivity of the dental nerve can cause. Therefore, another argument in favor of the treatment of milk teeth is a way to protect the baby from unpleasant painful sensations.

It is worth noting that the treatment of teeth at an early stage of damage is quite painless and does not take much time. If the baby is not afraid of the dental office from childhood, this will prevent many problems in the future, because he will not experience inexplicable fear when sitting in the doctor's chair.

If a milk tooth is not damaged for a long time, this may lead to the fact that it will need to be removed. As a result, the pronunciation of sounds may be disturbed in the child, milk teeth may move to the place of the fallen one, which will lead to incorrect positioning of permanent teeth in the future.

How to prevent damage to milk teeth

The most important rule to which it is necessary to accustom a child from childhood is daily brushing of teeth. It is necessary to brush your teeth twice a day, with a special children's and soft toothbrush. Start using toothpaste from the moment the first one appears in the crumbs. And as soon as the baby is able to hold the brush himself, teach him to brush his teeth on his own.

Explain to your child that after eating it is necessary to rinse the mouth thoroughly, getting rid of food debris. Avoid snacking between meals and excess sweets.

Make sure your child has enough solid fruits and vegetables in their diet. When chewing such food, mechanical cleaning of the surface of the teeth occurs.

Show the baby to the dentist at least once every six months, even if you do not see any lesions on the teeth, and the child does not complain of pain. It is better to prevent tooth decay than to treat it later.

There is an erroneous opinion that it is not so important to treat teeth at an early age, while they are milk teeth. Many parents pay more attention to permanent teeth, not knowing that diseases of milk teeth can greatly worsen the condition of molars. In addition, such diseases develop very quickly and can proceed painlessly, often causing complications.

Should milk teeth be treated?

Treatment of diseases of milk teeth is important because of such reasons:

1. Too early destruction of a milk tooth, which resulted in its removal or loss, threatens improper development of the bite and a change in the location of permanent teeth. Because of this, at an older age, the child will have to wear braces or suffer from psychological complexes.
2. Due to caries, a child may develop complications such as periodontitis, pulpitis, or cysts. Besides, infection from the affected milk tooth can get to the rudiment of the molar. In some cases, bacteria spread to the bone tissue of the jaws, which is even more dangerous for the health of the crumbs.
3. Also, due to problems with the teeth, the gastrointestinal tract of the child will suffer. Due to the lack of teeth, the food will not be processed enough, which will worsen digestion.

However, there are situations when the treatment of milk teeth is not indicated, but they are determined only by the dentist after examining the child. For example, if the affected tooth falls out on its own within 6 months, and the disease is sluggish (chronic), it can be left without treatment.

Common problems and treatments

This is the most common dental problem found in 70% of children under 6 years of age. Most often, the disease affects milk molars, which is associated with the nutritional conditions of children and with the relief structure of these teeth. Due to the accumulation of plaque, microorganisms quickly develop there, the result of their vital activity is caries.

It can be quite difficult to notice how it begins in a child, because at first white spots form on the teeth affected by caries, which do not bring any discomfort to the baby. If the disease develops further, the spots become dark, and when the child eats salty, sour or sweet, the teeth may react with painful sensations. And then the baby needs to start treatment.

If you miss the time, the lesion will spread to the internal tissues, the teeth will become sensitive to cold and hot food. In the worst cases, when the caries penetrates very deeply, the affected tooth will have to be extracted.

Periodontitis

This is a serious complication of caries caused by the spread of bacteria that has affected the root of the tooth to the surrounding tissues. The disease is manifested by constant aching pains, which eventually become pulsating and intense. The child also complains of pain when biting with a sick tooth, and his general condition may worsen (headaches appear, the temperature rises).

This is the name of an abscess that appeared as a result of diseases of the teeth, in which the child's cheek swells. The disease is quite serious, because its cause is purulent inflammation. It is manifested by pain in the tooth and jaw, reddening of the gums and the appearance of "bumps" on it. As a rule, the child's body temperature rises, and the general condition worsens.

The flux is treated only in a dental clinic, while the treatment should be as quick as possible to prevent the spread of infection and the entry of bacteria into the blood.

Stages of treatment

If caries is detected in a child at an early stage, he will be advised to do fluoridation. A special composition is applied to the teeth, which will protect them from further destruction. In children younger than 1-2 years old, silvering is used, but this causes darkening of the teeth and requires frequent repetition of the procedure.

More advanced stages of caries require filling, as well as pulpitis and periodontitis. The affected tissues of the tooth are removed and fillings are placed in their place. If several teeth are affected, they are treated gradually - so that the child does not get tired, one visit should not last more than 30 minutes. Besides, many clinics offer fillings of different colors to interest the child.

When filling the roots of milk teeth, a special material is used that can be absorbed in the future. Removal is resorted to only in cases where the tooth tissue is almost completely affected or the tooth is very mobile, which indicates its readiness for loss.

How is anesthesia given to children?

Pain relief is not required in all cases of dental treatment in children. As a rule, it is resorted to with severe caries (deep or medium). For anesthesia, a spray or injection is used, that is, in most cases, anesthesia will be local. At the same time, the concentration of the active substance in the medicines used in children is low.

General anesthesia at the age of less than 6 years is resorted to only with serious indications. Most parents are afraid of such pain relief, but in reality it is a fairly safe method used in many countries. Modern drugs effectively affect the child, and the frequency of complications is very low.

Komarovsky's opinion

A well-known doctor names among the main causes of the destruction of milk teeth genetic factor and considers other factors provoking caries sweets (especially sweet drinks) and drying up of saliva in a child. If the child's teeth have already begun to collapse, a popular doctor advises not to wait, but to consult a dentist.

At the same time, Komarovsky complains about the low quality of dental care for children in our country and emphasizes that it is better to prevent the need for dental treatment with proper prevention (limiting sweets and moisturizing the mucous membranes).

Most parents think about whether their child's milk teeth need to be treated? Naturally, they are concerned about the health of the oral cavity, but, on the other hand, you need to think about the nerves of the child. For this reason alone, many parents do not want to take their child to a pediatric dentist and postpone it until a later date.

Meanwhile, experts assure that if milk teeth are neglected, this will cause problems with permanent teeth.

Why Treat Baby Teeth in Children?

Milk teeth are the main shaper of the child's jaw, and the future of permanent molars depends on them. If a tooth falls out prematurely, this will lead to curvature of future. While the baby is still small and breastfed, his teeth are protected and will not be affected by caries.

From the moment when complementary foods are included in the child's diet and he switches to a common table, each time he is more and more susceptible to this disease. And all due to the fact that milk molars are poorly mineralized, therefore have poor protective properties, and this is an excellent provoking factor for various problems.

Mineralization occurs gradually and children's oral cavity is less prone to caries when the tooth tissue is fully hardened. Worth giving to children's teeth close attention at 5–6 years of age, it is at this time that the change of dairy to permanent begins to occur.

If at this time the hygiene and care of the oral cavity is carried out poorly, then the child may develop a malocclusion, which will affect his physical health. Therefore, at this age, it is necessary take your child to the dentist and an orthodontist.

But still, is it necessary to treat milk teeth? There are two reasons for the treatment of milk molars:

1. Treatment can stop the spread of infection in the mouth.
2. Treatment prevents the formation of bite problems.

If parents accidentally notice stains on the enamel, then this is an occasion to immediately contact the dentist. With the formation of caries, at the initial stage, the specialist will seal or silver the enamel.

Children's caries and the causes of its development

The reason for this is that caries is able to develop rapidly and destroys the walls of the entire tooth, and then moves on to the next, so the infection can even penetrate into the internal cavity.

One of the most common causes of caries is wrong intake of carbohydrates. Often parents allow their children to eat sweets at night, this includes not only chocolate and cakes, but it is also harmful to consume sugary juices and soda before bedtime. At night, saliva, which is supposed to neutralize acids, does not do so, so natural oral defenses do not occur.

Most adults are mistaken when they think that milk molars should not be treated, and they will eventually fall out on their own. If you do not notice the acute period of this disease, then the infection can settle in the child's oral cavity and lead to a chronic form.

For this reason, the child often begins to get sick with colds and his appetite disappears. Then there is a decrease in immunity, allergies appear, which creates anxiety for adults.

With caries, partially or enamel is completely destroyed, while the neighboring teeth begin to shift, which leads to an incorrect bite, and as a result, the permanent tooth, which should grow in this place, simply does not have room for it. But the worst thing is that the infection can sit deep in the gums and the permanent tooth can also be damaged.

Silvering

Is it possible to just silver them instead of treating milk teeth? In fact, coating caries-damaged teeth with silver ions stops the process of its spread.

This method is well suited with superficial caries, but if the infection has penetrated the gums, then there will be no benefit from such a procedure. Caries will also continue to destroy other teeth.

In order to prevent the formation of caries and its spread, teeth can be sealed. Grooves in the enamel on the chewing surface treated with a special solution. But sealing teeth should only be prescribed by a doctor and usually the effect lasts for several years.

Is it possible to simply remove a damaged tooth?

When a child is worried about pain in a tooth, then at that moment parents think about removing it. For treatment, you need to come to the dentist several times, and only a few minutes are enough for removal.

But this decision must be taken by a dentist after examining the oral cavity of the child. If the nearby teeth have already changed and the turn has come for the patient, then the doctor will remove it. Because in this case it will not affect the displacement of the teeth and the formation of the bite. But if the change of milk teeth did not occur, then the dentist will advise treatment.

An interesting fact: usually parents are worried about the front teeth of the baby, because they are visible when smiling, but dentists most often pay attention to the back teeth, because they think, first of all, not about beauty, but about their health and benefits.

Under any circumstances best if not removed. If premature loss of deciduous molars occurs, the permanent molars will not be supported and grow prematurely, which can affect the growth of the premolars.

You should not postpone a visit to the dentist, because premature loss of teeth entails their curvature and malocclusion, and in the future, correcting this defect will bring a lot of inconvenience not only to parents, but also to the children themselves.

Methods of treatment

After reading the above, it is probably no longer necessary to answer the question of whether it is worth treating milk teeth, so it is best to know how to do it correctly. To do this, you need to remember a few rules:

Pros and cons of filling and silvering

As noted above, for the treatment of teeth, many choose silvering. The advantages of this procedure are that the enamel is covered with a solution with silver ions in order to stop the caries process. Silvering is painless and does not require a drill, which is so afraid of not only children, but also adults.

The downside is that the procedures should be repeated every six months, and the already destroyed tooth tissue won't be able to recover. And also after the procedure, the baby's enamel becomes black. For children, of course, this will not play a role, but parents consider this side effect to be the main drawback of the procedure.

When sealing, a part is removed, and a seal is placed instead. In some private clinics with modern equipment for filling milk molars, they use not drills, but a special chemical-mechanical method.

A special gel is smeared on a tooth destroyed by caries, after 30 seconds it is removed along with carious tissue. And then a filling is applied to this place. The advantage of filling is that damaged tissues are replaced with new ones.

To date, the fillings have a durable character, so it is not necessary to re-fill the tooth. You can also choose a filling with fluorine ions, and this is considered an excellent prevention of caries. But the minus of the procedure is that it lasts about 20 minutes, and for a child it is too long. You need to sit in one place and with your mouth open, sometimes need to endure anesthesia in the form of an injection.

Each method of treating milk teeth has its own advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, all the nuances should be discussed in advance with the attending dentist. But best from early childhood protect your child's mouth.

Parents need to force their baby to keep their teeth in order and clean. If caries does not affect the child, and the enamel is healthy and well-groomed, then following the baby will become a habit in the future.

Constant oral hygiene, proper nutrition, prevention of early development of caries and its timely treatment are the main measures that all parents should know and then the child will not have problems with teeth in the future.

Therefore, when the question arises whether it is necessary to treat the baby's teeth, then the parents should not have any doubts. Because healthy primary molars are basis for strong permanent teeth, correct bite and a beautiful smile.

Caries of milk teeth in children and its treatment: what is important for parents to know

Milk teeth with caries in children must be cured. The approach of some parents “They will fall out anyway, there is nothing to torment the child and spend money” is a crime against the health of the baby.

Timely treatment of caries of milk teeth is even more important than the treatment of permanent teeth. And that's why:

From the practice of a dentist

Often parents do not treat even serious forms of complications of caries, and periodontitis in a child can turn into periostitis, osteomyelitis, abscess or phlegmon. Moreover, the level of deaths among children from complications of caries is higher than in adults, since under certain factors that weaken the immune system, the process from pulpitis to abscess and phlegmon in a child can take a few days and even occur within a day.

Therefore, the first thing to do when detecting caries of milk teeth in a child is to contact a pediatric dentist. After the examination, the doctor will tell you how and which teeth will need to be treated, what methods and means should be used for this, and how to make the treatment as comfortable as possible for the child.

Only in very rare cases, caries in milk teeth can really be left untreated. Usually, the doctor makes such a decision if the change of teeth in the child has already begun, caries is found on the tooth, which is likely to fall out within six months, and the disease itself is of a sluggish, chronic nature. In this case, caries simply does not have time to lead to serious consequences. However, we repeat: such a decision can only be made by a professional dentist on the basis of an examination of the child.

Specific features of milk teeth therapy

Treatment of caries of milk teeth in children is carried out taking into account the specifics of the structure and life cycle of the teeth themselves.

So, for example, milk teeth are quickly erased. This is a normal process that must be taken into account when choosing a filling material. If the material turns out to be harder than the tooth itself, then after a certain time the filling will begin to protrude beyond the surrounding tissues and prevent the child from chewing.

Usually glass ionomer cements are used in the treatment of caries in milk teeth. In this case, in addition to the abrasion of the filling, which occurs naturally simultaneously with the walls of the tooth adjacent to it, fluorides infiltrate into the tissues surrounding the filling, which, in turn, contributes to their additional mineralization and strengthening.

In addition, bottle and bloom caries often develop in children, which develop very quickly. While the parents have time to notice the disease and bring the child to the doctor, the pathological process can spread to most of the teeth and damage some of them especially badly. As a result, almost all teeth will have to be treated, and this will need to be done over several sessions, and the therapy itself will be very tiring for the child.

Methods of treatment of caries at different stages of the development of the disease

In the early stages of caries development, when only the tooth enamel is damaged, it is usually possible to manage with conservative remineralizing therapy. It does not use a drill: the demineralized areas of the teeth are first cleaned and then treated with special preparations that allow you to restore damaged enamel.

Today, ICON technology (Ikon) is also widely used for the treatment of initial caries: a special composite material is applied to the damaged area of ​​the tooth, filling all the pores formed as a result of a carious lesion. This material hardens and provides reliable and long-term protection of the treated area from further destruction.

Thanks to the ICON caries treatment technology, regular check-ups of the child at the dentist become even more relevant. It is much more effective and easier to treat caries of milk teeth in the early stages without a drill and fillings than to subsequently torment a baby in case of far-reaching destruction of enamel and dentin.

However, it should be borne in mind that for cervical defects close to the gingival margin, the ICON technique is limited for use due to too thin and poorly mineralized enamel (dentin cannot be infiltrated by the preparations used). Children under 3 years old should not use the technique.

Regular examinations of the child's teeth allow not only to reveal hidden carious processes and determine the cariogenic situation in the oral cavity, but also to designate for parents a set of necessary rules that allow them to preserve the surfaces of the teeth not affected by caries. It is important to start cleaning already with the appearance of the first milk tooth. In this case, it is enough to wipe the tooth with special napkins or use a finger-toothbrush for this purpose.

The first real toothbrush bought for a child should be:

• With very soft bristles;
• With a small and non-traumatic rounded head;
• With comfortable grip handle.

Learning to brush your teeth should take place in the form of a game. It is worth starting from 1-1.5 years. Control of the cleaning of all surfaces accessible to the brush and assistance to the child in this is carried out by adults. The combination of brushes with children's toothpastes is recommended not earlier than 2 years, when the child learns to spit.

Today, another method of conservative treatment of caries of milk teeth without a drill is increasingly recognized as morally obsolete - silvering. With it, silver salts are applied to carious areas, which leads to the death of bacteria here (silver has bactericidal properties) and, in the future, to the protection of these areas from repeated carious lesions.

From silver salts on the surface of the treated area, fine metallic silver is restored, which has a dark gray color. It greatly spoils the appearance of the teeth, and with them the child's mouth does not look better than with caries. In addition, silvering must be repeated once a month, which can be quite problematic.

In general, the effectiveness of the teeth silvering procedure as a way to prevent the development of caries is rather low.

When caries penetrates under the enamel and dentin is damaged, the infected cavity is excised, disinfected and filled with filling material. In some clinics, carious lesions are cleaned without a drill using a jet of abrasive material or special substances that dissolve the affected tissues. In addition, in some clinics, a laser is used to remove affected tissues, but to prescribe it, the doctor needs to take into account the age of the child and the specifics of a particular clinical situation.

In rare cases, for example, in severe forms of bottle caries, long before the change of teeth, crowns are installed for children using a special technology (while the tooth is not turned). For chewing teeth, such crowns are usually made of metal, and for incisors - from composite materials. The installation of the crown in this case is carried out in one visit to the dentist, and the crowns on the front teeth are installed in just 20-25 minutes.

Narcosis, local anesthesia and pain-free treatment: psychological aspects of therapy in children

No less difficult than the actual caries therapy is the control of the patient during the treatment procedure. Children themselves are restless, and it is incredibly difficult to keep them motionless in a chair for at least half an hour.

The problem is exacerbated if the child is frankly afraid of the dentist or drill and expects that it will hurt. He may just not open his mouth. And the younger the child, the more acute this problem is. It is solved in several ways:

It is anesthesia that parents usually fear the most. This is wrong: most of the drugs used today for general anesthesia are safe. Moreover, before the treatment itself, the child is tested and the necessary examination is carried out to make sure that he does not have individual contraindications to the use of anesthesia. And the doctor uses anesthesia itself only if other means and methods do not allow manipulation.

Many parents are afraid that anesthesia can affect the mental development of the child, impair his memory, and lead to a delay in the development of speech. Theoretically, such situations are possible, but they are extremely rare. Statistics show that such complications of anesthesia in children are extremely rare, and in many cases the cause of developmental disorders is not the anesthesia itself, but a strong fright in the hospital or the consequences of the disease for which treatment was carried out under anesthesia.

“In Sweden, apart from anesthesia, there are no options. My daughter is three years old, she trusts the doctor, sits in a chair, does not cry, but simply says no. She said - the doctor does not. You can’t force her, as this is child abuse, and she refuses. I had to do anesthesia. She got out of it for a very long time, but there were no consequences.

In cases with advanced bottle caries in children under the age of 3 years, anesthesia is the only way to carry out manipulations. Treatment may take at least 2-3 hours, and it is impossible to force the baby to sit motionless all this time in an unfamiliar environment.

In any case, the final decision is always made by the parents. The doctor himself will not administer anesthesia and perform the operation if he has concerns about the consequences of using anesthesia for the child.

Practice shows that in the overwhelming majority of cases, common sense wins and parents agree to anesthesia instead of risking the health and beauty of the child in the future.

“My son is 4.5, my daughter is 2 years old. We went for an examination, our son found two small holes, and my daughter had caries on 5 teeth, there is plaque and one tooth is already without a top. The doctor immediately offered us anesthesia. Although the clinic is good, I was somehow scared. At home I read about Sevoran, it seems that there is nothing terrible in it, but still anesthesia for 2.5 hours is more than they do appendicitis! We decided to refuse, we coped with our son. And they showed him cartoons, and promised everything in the world, and read fairy tales, but healed his teeth, one for each visit. And Sasha didn't even open her mouth. She said no, that's all. What to do here? I had to do anesthesia, but everything is in order, nothing happened. ”

Why treat milk teeth if they fall out anyway? Note to parents

Interesting nuances regarding the treatment of milk teeth under anesthesia

Treatment of milk teeth in children is the same mandatory procedure as treatment of permanent teeth in adults.

There are many factors that contribute to the occurrence of dental pathologies in babies, which, progressing, can adversely affect the health of the child as a whole and significantly worsen his well-being.

Modern medicine allows solving many problems not only quickly and efficiently, but also with comfort for the baby.

Children's teeth are often exposed to many pathogenic factors. And then parents ask themselves, is it necessary to treat milk teeth?

Until now, there is a myth that since they are temporary, then you should not worry about their condition, as if whether milk teeth are treated or not will not affect the child's condition in any way.

But in fact, there are no superfluous or unimportant details in the body. An organism is a system where the problems of one organ will affect the work of others.

And when thinking whether it is necessary to treat milk teeth for a baby, it is worth considering a few facts:

• at a minimum, bad teeth should be treated, if only because they cause discomfort to the child;
• long-term pathologies of the oral cavity cannot but affect the work of the gastrointestinal tract;
• some diseases without treatment can negatively affect the state of the permanent dentition, which will soon replace the milk teeth.

As you know, the baby's milk teeth are laid during the perinatal period, and their condition largely depends on genetics, the mother's diet during pregnancy, the woman's immunity, and even on possible diseases transferred during the period of gestation.

Permanent ones begin to form and form almost in the first months of a child's life.

It turns out that when the milk teeth erupt, under them the permanent dentition is already preparing to change.

With various inflammatory processes or infectious lesions, for example, with the same caries, the disease can affect or move from milk teeth to those that replace them.

It is quite easy to infect a small child with dental pathologies. Caries is transmitted through the same cutlery or toothbrushes from a person whose teeth are affected by this disease.

Milk teeth in children due to insufficiently formed enamel are more susceptible to pathogenic influences.

Therefore, it is so important to notice negative changes in time and consult a doctor. Parents should be attentive to the behavior of the child, because the baby, up to a certain age, cannot even tell for himself whether it hurts him.

Common pathologies

Many examples of caries were cited above, and for good reason, because caries of milk teeth in children is one of the most common diseases.

Almost everyone has encountered this problem, and everyone knows how much discomfort this disease can cause (teeth affected by caries can be very painful).

Caries is caused by pathogenic bacteria, under the influence of which the structure of the tooth is destroyed. We can say that bacteria cause dental tissues to rot, softening them.

Often, caries develops due to insufficient oral hygiene, when plaque accumulates, creating favorable conditions for the development of bacteria, and those, having overcome the protection of the enamel, literally “bite” into the tooth.

The formation of caustic acids, which reduce the strength of the enamel layer, will also be a negative factor. Such acids are formed from carbohydrates broken down by bacteria.

We can say that they are the products of vital activity of pathogenic microorganisms. Therefore, children are advised to give less sugary foods.

Another common pathology is the development of defects in tooth enamel. Sometimes you may encounter the fact that the child's teeth become rough and discolored with an uneven coating.

Such a defect can be caused by uneven development of the enamel. More often this phenomenon can be found in premature babies.

Sometimes the condition of the teeth is affected by any difficulties suffered by the mother during pregnancy.

Often there is such a defect as the appearance of enamel drops. By itself, it is not dangerous, but makes the teeth more vulnerable.

Enamel discoloration is also common. This phenomenon can be a symptom of various diseases.

Sometimes a change in color indicates a deficiency of minerals in the body, and sometimes it indicates pathological processes in dental tissues.

Enamel tint can change due to caries, plaque, fluoride decay, or a number of other reasons. For an accurate diagnosis, you should consult a doctor.

In childhood, you can also encounter periodontitis. Periodontitis can develop as a complication caused by other diseases or under the influence of various negative factors.

Periodontitis is easy to determine by the swelling of the gums, their bleeding and characteristic friability. In this case, the teeth will be more mobile than usual, and less protected.

Causes of pathologies and prevention of dental diseases

Most dental pathologies in children are easier to prevent than to treat, so it is important to understand the origins of the disease and take preventive measures.

Modern medicine knows many ways to identify and cure the disease at an early stage.

First of all, a competent approach to oral hygiene is necessary. It is best to periodically undergo preventive examinations at the dentist, starting from the moment the baby's first teeth erupt.

A specialist, focusing on the individual characteristics of the development of the child, will be able to give competent recommendations on caring for the oral cavity and milk teeth.

Not many parents know that even small children need to keep their mouths clean.

But the approach to hygiene in children will be somewhat different from the "adult" dental care. The child needs soft brushes, specially designed for delicate and not fully formed enamel.

You can use even simple cotton swabs or discs to clean the oral cavity and resort to rinsing.

Not every child can be persuaded to follow the rules of hygiene. It is especially difficult to monitor the cleanliness of the oral cavity of very young children.

In this case, you should at least try to avoid eating sweets in large quantities and pay attention to the diet so that the child does not experience a deficiency of nutrients and minerals necessary for the full formation of the body.

The use of toothpaste is a special topic, as the wrong toothpaste will only harm the baby.

For example, fluoride-containing pastes should not be used for oral care in young children (they can corrode still soft tooth enamel).

Fluoride, even found in water or foods, can be extremely harmful to children's teeth.

If we talk about infants, then caries or other dental pathologies can also occur due to improper breastfeeding or from frequent use of nipples or bottles.

Often, a baby falling asleep with a bottle in his mouth develops characteristic pathological changes in the structure of the enamel of the front teeth or even caries develops.

This phenomenon is called "bottle caries". The disease develops due to the long contact of a sweetish liquid (as a rule, all mixtures and even breast milk have a sweetish taste) with the surface of the teeth: this is how the entire front row of teeth can suffer from caries.

How to treat children's teeth?

It has already been mentioned above that one of the important elements in the prevention of dental diseases is regular visits to the dentist for examination.

Having understood why milk teeth should be treated, it becomes clear why the regularity of preventive examinations is also important.

The dentist will be able to assess the bite and condition of the teeth, suggest possible problems. For prevention, it is recommended to visit the dentist at least twice a year.

Modern dentistry has the ability to quickly identify and prevent most diseases.

How milk teeth that have already undergone pathological changes are treated depends on the age of the child, the characteristics of the pathology and the stage of its development.

Its main advantage is that it can be used to identify incipient caries at a stage that is not available for detection during visual inspection.

In addition, laser diagnostics is comfortable and does not cause negative associations in children.

How to treat caries depends on the characteristics of the case. For example, at a very early stage, you can simply eliminate bacteria with ozone, preventing the development of the disease and preventing the destruction of enamel. A tooth treated in this way will remain healthy for a long time.

Most serious interventions in pediatric dentistry are associated with the fact that caries in milk teeth has to be treated in an advanced form.

In some cases, it is even necessary to resort to premature removal of a milk tooth. Sometimes treatment may involve the removal of the roots of the tooth, the pulp and the establishment of a filling.

Modern medicine allows even serious interventions to be carried out painlessly. For this, local anesthetics are used.

They can be given as an injection or spray. In some cases, specialists resort to sedation or general anesthesia (whether it is necessary to use it is decided on the basis of special indications).

Usually, any dental procedure on milk teeth should not take more than half an hour. This is the recommended time that does not cause overwork in the child.

If the damage to the teeth is extensive, then it is treated in several stages.

At the same time, it is worth remembering that children's dental diseases will not stand still - as a rule, they develop rapidly, so if there is a problem, you need to act quickly.

Modern dentistry is a reliable assistant for parents in taking care of their babies. Attention and vigilance in relation to the health of milk teeth will be fully justified.

At a minimum, this will help the child feel comfortable, and as a maximum, it will be a significant contribution to the development of a healthy permanent row of teeth.

The problem of caries of milk teeth in children is currently familiar to many parents. Dentists around the world are concerned about the trend of “rejuvenation” of caries: dark spots, and subsequently holes in the teeth, appear more and more often in very young children. In our time, the causes of dental diseases in babies abound:

• short-term breastfeeding;
• eating sweets and juices;
• night feedings with formula or sweetened liquids from a bottle;
• general decrease in immunity (frequent colds, manifestations of allergies);
• poor-quality or improper oral hygiene;
• heredity.

Milk teeth are the "weak link" of the child's body due to poor enamel mineralization (compared to adult teeth). The hard tissues of the tooth mature gradually, within two years after eruption, and during this period they are extremely susceptible to caries.

Is it worth treating caries of milk teeth?

To the question of some parents: “Is it possible to treat milk teeth?” The answer of experts is unequivocal: "Not only possible, but necessary."

Despite the calls of dentists to be very attentive to the health of the oral cavity in children, many continue to believe that milk teeth will fall out soon, and there is no point in treating them. This is far from true. Let us briefly clarify why treat milk teeth:

1. The period of "life" of milk teeth not so short. From teething to a complete change, 11-12 years pass, and this, you see, is a considerable period. Therefore, it is not worth delaying treatment.
2. Caries of milk teeth develops very quickly, literally in 2-3 weeks, and the child without timely treatment will feel pain.
3. Infection can spread to adjacent teeth nearby and damage the rudiments of permanent teeth located in the gum.
4. Tooth affected by caries - the focus of infection, which, when introduced into the body, can provoke general intoxication, as well as cause chronic diseases of the throat, liver, heart and kidneys.
5. Loss of a tooth leads to disruption of the gastrointestinal tract And displacement of other teeth, "aspiring" to take his place. The result will be a violation of the bite and, possibly, diction.
6. Ugly, black, missing teeth can cause ridicule from other children, and this is a direct path to the baby's complexes.
7. Understanding that a bad tooth needs to be treated forms a child’s a general culture of care and attention to one's own teeth.

It is necessary to treat milk teeth ... how to treat caries of milk teeth?

So, you know: there is a problem, teeth need to be treated. Their own children's fears of the dentist come up, and it is not clear whether the baby will be able to sit in the doctor's chair for the entire procedure. Let's see how caries of milk teeth is generally treated.

First of all, you should contact a pediatric dentist. This doctor will help you create the best treatment plan for your child's teeth. In addition, a pediatric dentist understands how important it is to find an approach to a small patient, not to scare him or leave negative impressions associated with dental treatment. A good doctor is also to some extent a psychologist who can distract and amuse the child.

Traditionally, two main methods of treating caries in children are used: silvering and filling.

Silvering

Silvering used to stop the process of reproduction of bacteria in the area of ​​​​the tooth affected by caries. A special solution containing silver ions is applied to the diseased tooth, blocking the access of oxygen to the treated area. This is a temporary measure, since the procedure must be repeated every six months. But its significant advantages are the speed and lack of drilling with a drill.

filling

Modern dentistry has gone far ahead of the level at which it was in our childhood. Used for treatment fillings, which perfectly bind to tooth enamel, serve for a long time and even prevent the re-development of caries. For children, there are even multi-colored fillings. The treatment procedure takes from 5 to 20 minutes, depending on the severity of caries.

Is it painful to treat milk teeth?

There are nerves in milk teeth, and accordingly, such a tooth can hurt and has sensitivity during treatment. But there is still a difference in sensations compared to permanent teeth. Opinions of dentists on whether it is necessary to give a small child an anesthetic injection during treatment vary. Perhaps, in your particular situation, if the caries is superficial, the treatment will take a matter of minutes, and there will be practically no pain. However, good pediatric specialists most often prefer to do anesthesia in the treatment of milk teeth. If the baby feels pain at the dentist's appointment, it is likely that after that it will not work to persuade him to open his mouth even for examination. They try to use general anesthesia as little as possible, because it carries some health risks.

To remove a milk tooth or to treat?

It is highly undesirable to remove milk teeth. Therefore, removal remains an extreme option, which is resorted to last. After the extraction of a neglected tooth, there is a free space, and adjacent teeth can move to fill it. For the correct formation of the maxillofacial apparatus after the forced removal of a milk tooth, a crown or prosthesis is placed instead. Such a measure will prevent violations of bite and diction in the future.

Remember, healthy baby teeth are the foundation of healthy permanent teeth. Be sure to take care of your children's teeth. A balanced diet, proper and regular brushing of teeth, a visit to the dentist once every six months are the basic principles for the prevention of caries, even in the smallest.

Health to your children and let their teeth be strong!

Photo from Lori's photobank

There is a widespread belief that milk teeth need not be treated, as they will fall out anyway and be replaced by other teeth. But everything is not so simple. So do milk teeth need to be treated? This is of particular interest to many parents. There are some nuances in this matter. This will be discussed further.

Do milk teeth need to be treated?

According to dentists, milk teeth play an important role in the formation of the jaw in a child. They are the basis for the future that will come to replace them. In the case when a child loses milk teeth too early, this is reflected in the development of his jaw. It should also be remembered that future permanent teeth are formed directly in the place where the milk ones are located. Therefore, there is a possibility of infection spreading to the gum. And this will negatively affect future teeth. In this case, new ones will grow already affected by the infection.

Therefore, the answer to the question of whether it is necessary to treat milk teeth will be in the affirmative. In connection with the above, it should be concluded that temporary incisors need careful care and treatment until the time comes for them to fall out. Usually the age period in which the change of teeth occurs is 9-10 years. The front teeth begin to fall out earlier, namely at the age of seven. Usually, children come to first grade with missing front ones.

Maybe you can delete it?

Do milk teeth need to be treated or can they be removed? If you pull out incisors affected by caries, this will lead to a violation of the development of the jaw. Something like this would be a big problem. This is due to the fact that the process of digestion of food is disturbed. How can diseases of the stomach and intestines occur. Also, with an incorrect bite, the aesthetics of the face are disturbed.

Preventive measures

Children's teeth are highly susceptible to the development of caries. This is due to the fact that the enamel is not strong enough and is easily exposed to caries. The final formation of enamel occurs by the age of twelve.

Due to the fact that the enamel in young children does not have sufficient strength, caries has an instant spread on the teeth. Small children should be especially careful to monitor the oral cavity. It is necessary to carry out actions related to its hygiene. You need to brush your teeth in the morning and evening every day. Also, after eating, you should teach the child to rinse his mouth. Sometimes these measures cannot protect the baby from the appearance of caries.

Despite the fact that modern medicine is constantly developing, a tool has not yet been invented that would protect teeth from caries. In this regard, parents need to take preventive measures in order to avoid its occurrence.

Should milk teeth be treated at 5 years old? If the child allows it, then you should. Otherwise, it is worth taking other measures to prevent caries.
Is it necessary to treat milk teeth at 4 years old? Still, therapy is recommended.

Using a laser

In order to get rid of carious effects on children's teeth, it is necessary to carry out diagnostics through special tests. Examination of the incisors allows you to make a prediction of the risks of the disease for the child, taking into account his individual characteristics. One of the diagnostic methods is a laser. With it, the dentist can diagnose the localization of infected bacteria and prevent their further impact on the tooth. Caries may not be noticeable during a routine examination.

At the same time, using a laser, the doctor will see the spread of infection on the baby's teeth. The device looks like a small lamp. With the help of such a device, a tooth is scanned. It is carried out from all sides. When caries is detected, the device emits a sound signal. This suggests that there are bacteria on the tooth. The latter contribute to the spread of this disease.

In a number of European countries, continuous testing of the condition of children's teeth is carried out. Fillings are not allowed there, since problems are identified at the initial stage. Examination of teeth by means of a laser does not cause any pain in the child and is tolerated without fear. Also, using this method, the effectiveness of treatment is evaluated. The results of the examination of the state of the teeth make it possible to prescribe individual preventive measures aimed at strengthening the enamel, removing microorganisms that contribute to the formation of an unfavorable environment. Also, through preventive measures, you can make a protective barrier for the spread of harmful bacteria.

Treatment of caries with ozone. Is it necessary to treat caries on milk teeth?

When caries is detected at a very early stage, it is possible to completely restore dental tissue. One effective treatment is the use of a gas such as ozone. Its action lies in the fact that it kills bacteria that contribute to the spread of caries in the human oral cavity. This is due to the fact that ozone has a high oxidizing effect.

The action of ozone is very fast. In half a minute, it relieves a person of all harmful bacteria. Ozone is introduced into the growth cavity through a special silicone cup. It is very soft and does not cause any discomfort. After the ozonation procedure is carried out, a special composition is applied to the teeth. Another property of ozone is that it activates metabolic processes in the body. Therefore, the applied substance is quickly absorbed and will have a positive effect on the condition of the teeth.

It is well known that caries is more likely to occur on teeth that have been treated. This is due to the fact that bacteria can remain in the cavity of the tooth. Treatment of the tooth with ozone will help prevent the recurrence of caries.

Silvering teeth

Another way to help young children in the fight against caries is teeth silvering. During this procedure, the baby's teeth are treated with a special solution, which includes silver. This procedure is used to prevent further spread of caries. Usually it is done to children under 3 years old.

Silvering is usually carried out at the initial stage of caries development. Also, this procedure is an alternative to treatment. Quite often, children do not allow the dentist to treat their teeth. Then they are silver plated. You should know that this procedure is not a treatment. The action of this procedure is aimed at stopping the spread of carious infection. This procedure should be repeated every six months for its effect to be effective. The procedure does not cause any discomfort to the child. It's done pretty quickly. The dentist uses a cotton swab to apply the solution to the affected teeth.

There are a number of disadvantages to the procedure.

It is believed that silvering is ineffective for chewing teeth. However, if no other therapeutic measures are carried out, then it is advisable to do this procedure. It will have an antimicrobial effect for a certain time.

The disadvantages of silvering include the dark color of the teeth after the procedure. However, for children, this does not matter much. Therefore, you can do such a procedure.
Silvering is useless if the child has deep caries. Such tooth damage should be treated in a different way.

Fluoridation

Now you know the answer to the question of whether milk teeth should be treated at 6 and 5 years old. Now let's talk about one good method. In addition to silvering, there is such a procedure as deep fluoridation. It does not cause any pain in the child. The solution that is applied to the teeth has a high fluoride content. During this procedure, the child's teeth remain white.

Fluoridation refers to preventive dental care measures. It cannot be attributed to treatment. This procedure has contraindications. They lie in the fact that it cannot be done to those people whose place of residence belongs to the area where there is a high content of fluorine. It is customary to use it only when caries is present in a child in the form of a white spot. At this stage of the disease, there will be an effect from the procedure. The decision on the use of a particular technique is made by the dentist after examining the patient.

How to prepare your child for a visit to the dentist?

Not every adult goes to this doctor with pleasure. And the children are doubly afraid of this doctor. Therefore, it is necessary to have a conversation with the child before visiting the doctor. Tell him that the dentist will look at his teeth and clean them. It will be better to visit the doctor more often.

For example, every 3 months. The fact is that in a child all the processes in the body are much faster than in adults. Therefore, it is necessary to inspect as often as possible. The more often the child will come to the dental office, the less fear he will have before

What does Komarovsky think?

Do milk teeth need to be treated? Komarovsky has his own opinion on this issue. He believes that it is necessary to treat milk teeth. Silvering can be used on If the process has gone further, then the tooth should be filled.

Pulpitis

Is it necessary to treat pulpitis on milk teeth? Of course. Pulpitis is a neglected form of caries that affects the pulp. How to treat this ailment is determined by the attending physician, depending on the individual characteristics of the body and the mental state of the child.

Conclusion

Now you know the answer to the exciting question of whether it is necessary to treat milk teeth in children. We hope the information in this article was helpful.