Dr. Parveen Chopra's Health Blog
child health
Delay in Seeking Dental Advice Aggravates Dental Problem
May 4th
Retained root remnant of Milk Tooth
Mixed-Dentition Phase Requires Extra Attention
Apr 29th
When we study dentistry, there is a separate subject of Children Dentistry .. Pedodontia. Prof Taneja, our great teacher of Pedodontia used to always remind us that parents of children in the age group 6-12 years should be made aware about this “mixed dentition period”.
By the “mixed dentition period”, we mean it is a mixed phase in which milk teeth co-exist with permanent teeth in this age group. The milk teeth (deciduous teeth) are gradually shedding off making room for the succedaneous permanent tooth –(succedaneous appears to be big word—never mind, it is just the term for the permanent tooth that is take place of a milk tooth!
Generally, all parents have their own perceptions but a common perception is that in children all these are milk teeth. No, it is not true—in fact as early as 6-year old child can have four permanent molars in his mouth —one in each quadrant. However, sheer out of ignorance, the parents think all teeth are deciduous (milk teeth) — hence in majority of cases,when that tooth gets cavity, hardly anybody bothers. Ultimately, in a few years it is quite difficult to save that tooth – only Root canal treatment and crowning can manage but just a very few patients can afford such treatment.
Retained Milk teeth roots cause Malocclusion
Apr 17th
We come across many children in which retained milk teeth lead to “crooked teeth” because they don’t allow the normal eruption of permanent teeth.
This underlines the importance of regular periodic dental check-ups during which any such aberrations can be detected and immediate intervention can be done.
Child’s First Dental Visit
Jan 31st
Many people are under the false impression that children are not required to get any dental check-up because they have milk teeth which will shed off after some years to make way for the permanent teeth. In India even adults don’t go for regular dental check-ups. When a tooth hurts or gums bleed or bad breath or some oral ulcer troubles, only then they visit a dentist.
I think we don’t discuss adults’ teeth – let it be Child Special post. As there is no concept of dental check-ups of kids, the health of milk teeth is at stake. Many kids sleep with bottle in their mouth and it leads to Nursing Bottle Caries. Some kids keep on indulging in other parafunctional oral habits like thumb-sucking, tongue-thrusting which adversely affects the symmetry of dental arches and lead to irregular arrangement of teeth (Dental Malocclusion).
Naturally there is a big question for parents – what is the time for the child’s first dental visit! First visit of a child should be at the age of one year. This is very important- it is not my personal view, this recommendation is being given world over.
A child’s first visit is very important. She is to be provided a friendly ambience. As at this age, generally 8-10 milk teeth have already erupted, so parents need to be guided for their regular cleaning.