Pediatric dentistry is a branch of clinical dentistry that is concerned with the prevention and control of soft and hard tissue diseases in the oral cavity of adolescents under 18 years of age. Teething begins at 7 months and ends at 2 years of age. At this time the child has 20 baby teeth, which is called a variable occlusion. Of course the duration of these phases vary from one individual to another. From the age of 6, the 6th permanent chewing teeth appear on both the upper and lower jaws. The replacement process is completed by the age of 13. Baby teeth differ from permanent teeth in their histological structure. Its dentin tubes are wider and more conductive, the enamel prisms are characterized by a less dense layout, which leads to a high rate of of pathological processes in the deciduous teeth. Deciduous teeth have a root and canal system that undergoes physiological resorption upon the emergence of a permanent tooth. The process happens in stages.

What is the purpose of pediatric dentistry?

It provides prevention, rehabilitation and the treatment of the oral cavity. In children, diseases that are either related or unrelated to cavities are observed. Their treatment is different from permanent teeth, so are the materials used in pediatric dentistry. Their choices are varied, ranging from chemically polymerizable glass ionomer cements to beam reinforced glass ionomer cements. Canal filling materials are also different, mainly used calcium-based sealers.

Analgesia is an integral part of dentistry, which is also relevant in pediatric dentistry. Anaesthesia is performed with different groups of anesthetics. Treatment with laughing gas (nitrous oxide) has become quite demanding. If the child does not obey and has a panicky fear of manipulation, common anesthesia used in pediatric dentistry is advisable if the use of nitrous oxide is not possible in specific circumstances.

It is advisable to visit the dentist once every 6 months, regardless of whether the child has a toothache or not. Timely consultation helps prevent various diseases, since the oral cavity is not just teeth, but it is the first stage of the digestive system, which is connected in a continuous chain with the whole organism.