Common Pediatric Dental Procedures Stainless Steel Crowns (SSC). Cavities (cavities), early orthodontic care (interceptive). Extractions (tooth extraction) Did you know that 20 percent of children ages 5 to 11 have at least one tooth decay? In most children, their first set of permanent molars will come out by the age of six. Sometimes dentists can brush sealants on each of these teeth to act as a barrier against plaque and other forms of acid.
Fluoride treatments are one of those preventive measures that we talked about earlier. These treatments work to make teeth more resistant to acid attacks caused by bacteria, sugar, and even plaque in the mouth. X-rays are important tools that dentists often use to monitor things going on inside your child's mouth. They are quite safe for children, but it's a good idea to take as little as possible to get the necessary information.
The ideal time between x-rays for children at high risk of tooth decay is 6 to 12 months. For low-risk children, that figure drops to 12-24 months. Extractions are quite rare in children, and are only done as a last resort. In some cases, it's due to tooth decay or some other cavity-related problem.
In others, it is done to help with overcrowding in certain areas of the mouth. Extractions performed for this reason will help permanent teeth grow straight. In most cases, the tooth is first numbed for the procedure. In some cases, the patient may be placed under anesthesia (usually nitrous oxide) while the procedure is being performed.
This is also common with tooth extractions. Both children and adults need orthodontic care, but it's especially common in children. Orthodontic appliances are usually used to treat things like crooked, crowded, or overlapping teeth. Sometimes, a bad bite can also present problems in children, usually in the form of an overbite or underbite.
Finally, dental cleanings will be the procedure your child is most familiar with. These should start as close as possible to the child receiving their first tooth, usually about six months later. One of the most common dental procedures performed by a pediatric dentist is dental filling. Children's teeth are prone to tooth decay, so getting cavities is quite common.
And most of the time, a quick and easy dental filling can treat these cavities. To keep your child safe and comfortable during a dental procedure, your child's dentist may decide to use general anesthesia in the operating room. General anesthesia may also be used if your child needs extensive or complicated procedures that will take a long time to complete, or if you need several procedures to be performed, all at the same time. A pediatric anesthetist, a doctor who specializes in anesthesia for children, will give your child medications that will make him or her sleep soundly during the procedure.
General anesthesia puts your child's entire body to sleep. It is necessary for certain dental procedures and treatments so that your reflexes are completely relaxed. Your child will not feel pain during the procedure, nor will he have any memories of it. When general anesthesia is needed, there are important eating and drinking rules that must be followed in the hours leading up to the procedure.
One business day before your child's procedure, you will receive a phone call from a scheduler nurse. No calls are made on weekends or holidays. Have a pen and paper ready to write down these important instructions. The nurse will give you specific eating and drinking instructions for your child based on your child's age.
Once the procedures have been completed, your child will be taken to the recovery room, where the nurse will carefully check his vital signs. The effects of general anesthesia can last for many hours. If your child has developed a cold, stuffy nose, or other condition that makes it difficult for him to breathe through his nose, he will need to call surgery the same day and the procedure will need to be rescheduled. He completed his dental education at USC and his residency in anesthesiology at Ohio State University.
One of these people will be the dentist or oral surgeon performing the procedure and the other will be an independent observer. To help you prepare for this conversation, it may help to understand the two basic types of dental fillings: direct and indirect. Anesthesia can be given in a specially equipped dental office, an outpatient surgery center (ASC), or a hospital. This person will administer and supervise deep sedation and general anesthesia while the dentist or oral surgeon performs dental surgery on your child.
During exams, dental hygienists apply topical fluoride to your child's teeth after professional dental cleaning. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that everyone visit a dentist at least every six months. Read the following information to learn about this medication, its possible use for your child's dental procedure, and how it can help. The American Dental Association recommends wearing a mouth guard if your child participates in basketball, boxing, hockey, soccer, gymnastics, lacrosse, martial arts, racquetball, rugby, athletics, skateboarding, skiing and snowboarding, skydiving, soccer, surfing, volleyball, water polo, weightlifting, or wrestling.
This is one of the most common procedures performed by pediatric dentists, in part because children's teeth are so prone to tooth decay. However, dental assistants cannot administer sedation or rescue medications on their own in a dental office. After discussing sedation and anesthesia options with your child's dentist or oral surgeon, find out exactly who will administer the medications and who will monitor your child during the dental procedure. .
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