What is Pedodontics?

Pedodontics is the branch of dentistry that deals with all kinds of treatment and preventive dental procedures for children. Dentists who specialize in this field and have received specific training are referred to as pedodontists, and the branch itself is called pedodontics.

Pedodontics is Essentially Divided into 2 Parts:

A- Treatment of Existing Problems:
In children, cavities can be prevented by careful nutrition (avoiding sticky and sugary foods) and applying proper tooth brushing techniques. If a cavity occurs, the affected part is cleaned, and depending on the situation, it is treated with permanent or temporary fillings. In some cases where the tooth is severely damaged and cannot be treated with a filling, specially designed "caps" for children may be used to cover the tooth for a while. Colored fillings have been produced in recent years to make dental visits and treatments more enjoyable for children.

2- Fracture:
Children often fall or bump into things, causing harm to their front teeth, which can lead to problems they will be bothered by for years or require frequent visits to the dentist. A simple mouthguard prepared by your dentist prevents damage from trauma to the lower part of the face. Especially in children engaged in sports such as football, boxing, skiing, basketball, cycling, rollerblading, surfing, skateboarding, a silicone transparent mouthguard placed on the upper front teeth acts as a cushion, preventing dental traumas, fractures, or lip, tongue biting, and tearing.

3- Impact:
Place the tooth between clean gauze and moisten it with saliva, then go to your dentist immediately. If you cannot reach your dentist quickly, wet the gauze with physiological saline solution, which you can obtain from the pharmacy, and try to reach as soon as possible. Ideally, treatment should start within 1 hour. If conditions are suitable, your dentist will reposition the displaced tooth (reimplantation). With meticulous application and subsequent good care, the tooth will remain in your child's mouth for years.

4- Tooth Extraction:
In some cases, a cavity extends to the inner part of the tooth (nerve-pulp), causing an inflammatory condition reaching the roots of the teeth. The child's face swells, and there is severe pain. Keeping such a tooth in the mouth is not correct for the child's health. In this case, the tooth is extracted. Especially if it is a deciduous tooth and the eruption time of the permanent tooth coming from below is very close, it is a procedure that poses no problem.

5- Cleaning:
If bacterial plaque (a whitish, sticky layer consisting of food residues and microorganisms) has accumulated on the teeth to an extent that cannot be removed by normal brushing, it should be cleaned by the dentist.

B- Preventive Dentistry Aimed at Preventing Problems:

1- Hygiene Education:
Complete oral care can only be achieved with complete knowledge. Hygiene education, including teaching tooth brushing and flossing techniques, reviewing eating habits, and emphasizing the importance of oral health, ensures that no information is missing. This education is important for both children and adults.

2- Surface Fluoride Applications:
Fluoride is a mineral that strengthens tooth enamel and makes it resistant to decay. Regular fluoride applications are performed to protect the health of children's teeth.

3- Fissure Sealant:
The grooves and pits on the chewing surfaces of teeth are suitable areas for the formation of cavities. These areas are covered with a special filling material called fissure sealant to prevent cavity formation.

4- Space Maintainer:
Used to maintain or fill the gap left by prematurely lost deciduous teeth until permanent teeth come in.

It is beneficial to regularly take your children to a pedodontist for their dental health. This is important to ensure that children have healthy mouths and teeth.