If a child’s teeth are not cared for properly starting from a very early age, problems can develop that will then require pediatric dentistry to solve. While any child who has already begun to develop teeth should already be seeing a pediatric dentist, not all parents are aware that this is necessary. They may not understand why something seems off with their child’s mouth or why one or more of their teeth are beginning to decay.
When a parent first takes a child to a dentist, they should be made aware of all the potential problems that could occur and what can be done to solve them if one or more of them do. One of the most obvious problems is tooth decay, which is generally caused by lack of good oral hygiene. Some parents may not be aware that baby teeth need to be taken care of the same way permanent teeth do, and if that care is lacking the result can be decay. Unfortunately, the solution to this problem is usually to just remove the tooth, but this is something that can then cause further problems down the road as permanent teeth begin to come in. Permanent teeth can become misaligned without a “guide” in the form of the baby tooth that was removed, so this is something your pediatric dentist will want to keep a close eye on. Caught early, this sort of problem can generally be corrected as well.
The issue of cavities can be solved by pediatric dentistry as well. A cavity caught early can be easily taken care of, but cavities can also be prevented entirely by having a sealant applied to the child’s teeth. This is generally done over the molars, which are the teeth most likely to develop cavities. This special sealant serves as a barrier between the tooth and any bacteria, food particles, sugary items, and more, all of which are the common causes of cavities. This procedure is done over the molars as these areas may be harder for young children to brush thoroughly, especially when you consider that it can be difficult even for some adults.
Pediatric dentistry can also involve correcting crooked tooth growth early on so the child may not need braces later on. If there are uneven bites issues or teeth that are packed too tightly next to each other, these problems can also be addressed. Getting things literally straightened out as early as possible can spare the child of pain later on, as well as sparing the wallets of parents. In the end, providing a child with early pediatric dentistry can go a long way in preventing, or correcting early on, any potentially serious issues that can arise with the development of teeth.
Pediatric Dentistry Haymarket VA – Do you need pediatric dentistry for your child in Haymarket, VA? The Smilez Pediatric Dental Group can help! Visit them online.
