Paediatric dentist

Opis specjalizacji

A paedodontist is a specialist who deals with the prevention, diagnostics and treatment of oral diseases in the youngest patients. We are happy to see children and adolescents at our enel-med dentistry centres throughout Poland for adaptive visits, preventive treatments (sealing and varnishing), and painless treatment of caries in deciduous and permanent teeth.

A paediatric dentist specialises in treating teeth of young patients. Remember that your child should learn the correct rules of hygiene and nutrition from an early age, and should be accustomed to regular dental check-ups. Thanks to modern methods of anaesthesia and innovative treatment techniques, modern paedodontics makes visits to the dental practice painless and stress-free.

Paediatric dentist – when to visit the doctor?

See a paediatric dentist (paedodontist):

• when the first deciduous teeth appear. The first visit should be arranged around the age of 1, whereas check-ups – every 3 to 4 months
• in the case of teething problems, e.g. if the process is very painful, occurs early (just after birth) or late;
• if the child feels pain;
• if the child has an unpleasant smell in its mouth;
• if your child develops discolourations on the enamel (yellowish/brownish spots or visible dental cavities);
• in the case of incorrectly erupted teeth and suspected malocclusion.

An adaptation visit is a very important stage that helps the child become familiar with the paedodontist: the child gets to know the practice, meets the dentist and the assistant, can see dental equipment, and ask questions. This way, subsequent appointments will be less stressful for the young patient.

Frequent check-ups are very important, and should take place every 3 to 4 months. During these visits, the young patient becomes accustomed to having oral procedures performed. If the paedodontist does not find any caries, preventive treatments may be performed. Besides, trust in the doctor and good cooperation with the child bodes well for the future, especially if it is necessary to treat dental cavities. Thanks to more frequent visits, the paedodontist can detect caries at an early stage and immediately implement treatment. Remember that caries in deciduous and permanent teeth is very aggressive. Therefore, if you come to see the dentist too late, the changes may already be irreversible and the treatment – complicated.

Paediatric dentist – what procedures does the specialist perform?

A consultation with a paediatric dentist always starts with history taking from the child’s parents and with the basic oral examination. Depending on the individual case, different treatments and therapies may be suggested.

• Treatment of caries in permanent and deciduous teeth

Statistics show that, unfortunately, caries affect the vast majority of children in Poland. At enel-med dentistry departments, we treat caries in both deciduous and permanent teeth, using modern fillings. In the case of deciduous teeth, we offer a broad range of colourful fillings. The types of fillings that we use for deciduous teeth are adapted to the conditions present in the child’s oral cavity, allowing for their quick placement. This is also extremely important if the cooperation of the young patient with the dentist is limited.

• Teeth sealing

The procedure consists of sealing natural immature and very deep furrows and fissures on the tooth surface with a special sealant that constitutes a mechanical barrier against dental plaque and food debris deposited in places difficult to reach with a toothbrush. The gradual release of fluorides further mineralises the enamel. Sealing is most commonly performed on newly erupted, permanent premolars and molars.

• Varnishing (teeth fluoridation in children)

It is a very simple and quick preventive procedure that is performed in both deciduous and permanent teeth. It consists of applying (to previously cleaned tooth surfaces) a special preparation containing a concentration of fluorine compounds higher than the one found in the toothpaste you use every day. Tooth fluoridation in children is recommended approximately every 3 to 6 months. The treatment is designed to protect teeth from caries provided that the child follows the hygienic and nutritional recommendations of the paedodontist.

At enel-med, the paediatric dentist will also provide the briefing on oral hygiene for children and parents, and (if necessary) will perform deciduous tooth extraction or refer to an orthodontist

FAQ

How to prepare for the first appointment?

1. When telling your child about the appointment, choose your words wisely. Avoid phrases like “be brave,” or “hold on” to avoid implying that the visit might be unpleasant or painful.
2. Inform your child of the reason for the dental visit, especially if it is scheduled.
3. Try to get your child interested in the topic of dental health, and encourage it to talk to the dental staff at the practice.
4. Allow the doctor to act according to their knowledge and experience: give them a chance to establish a rapport with the small patient.
5. Tell your child in advance that it will remain under the care of the doctor, and that it is worth making friends with them.
6. Bring with you all results of your child’s tests and examinations: orthopantomogram, CBCT, etc.
7. Collect medical records from other medical centres at which your child has received dental treatment.

What are the benefits of paedodontic treatment?

• Taking control of your child’s health: bacteria, e.g. cariogenic ones, can be transferred from the oral cavity into the blood stream and, with it, spread throughout the body.
• Proper development of teeth: healthy deciduous teeth ensure the optimum environment for the eruption of permanent teeth. If permanent teeth are not infected with caries, their further eruption will proceed properly.
• Painless and stress-free dental appointments: if your child is familiar with dental procedures in advance, it feels confident at the dental practice and does not associate it with pain or discomfort.
• Starting orthodontic treatment at the best time: the dentist can determine the need for and the optimum start of possible orthodontic treatment. Time plays a more important part in orthodontics, especially in children whose teeth, facial bones, maxilla and mandible are still growing. The right time is easily missed, and a treatment introduced too late will be longer and less predictable.
• A beautiful, healthy and white smile on your child’s face.

Consequences of non-treatment:

• rapidly developing caries in deciduous teeth, leading to such complications as inflammation of the pulp, requiring tooth devitalisation or removal;
• dental deposits and cavities that accumulate large amounts of bacteria and food debris, accelerating the development of caries. Their elimination is impossible without implementing professional dental care: cleaning and treatment of dental cavities;
• susceptibility to diseases: infections affecting the throat, bronchi or sinuses caused by the bacteria spread from the oral cavity throughout the child’s body;
• caries in other children: cariogenic bacteria may spread to siblings’ teeth if they use the same cutlery, cups or drink from the same bottle;
• fear of the dentist and associated pain: treatment of extensive cavities can cause negative associations with the dental practice. After a painful visit, the child no longer wants to cooperate with the doctor and must be treated under anaesthesia or with laughing gas;
• malocclusion: by avoiding dental check-ups, it is easy to miss the right moment for implementing the orthodontic treatment, and an untreated defect may become more extensive and hinder future orthodontic procedures.