Babies oral health

TREATMENT FOR CHILDHOOD TOOTH DECAY
Its an article for a lay person on the various options available for treatment of children teeth according to the problem faced by your child.
TREATMENT FOR CHILDHOOD DECAY :
1.Restorative treatment or restoring the lost tooth structure: When a child needs to have his or her tooth restored(or a filling done) the treatment modality will be decided by the dentist, according to the extent of the tooth decay and the symptoms experienced by the child(eg. pain, swelling, difficulty in eating etc.). here are some of the options of restorative treatment for children which you can avail of for your child as per the instructions of your dentist. *COMPOSITE: Composite refers to a substance made up of an acrylic resin filled with inorganic substances, silicate quartz or tricalcium phosphate. The composite is usually but not always applied to the tooth in a plastic i.e pliable form and sets either by itself or with the use of blue light( ultra violet light ). A technique called acid etching i.e etched preparation of the tooth surface is usually used to improve the stabilty of the filling in the cavity. Other techniques such as computer generated restorations forms and indirect composite restorations.i.e where filling is made on the model of the tooth and then fitted in the mouth are also now being used. Composite filling materials are used most commonly in the restorations of anterior(front) teeth because they have very good aesthethic properties. They are easy to colour match and come in many shades and brands. They are also now used extensively in posteriors(molars) because they are aesthethically more pleasing than amalgum( silver fillings) and also have adequate strength.
*SILVER AMALGUM: Also called as silver filling restorations, dental amalgum is a mixture of alloy of metals including mercury, silver copper and zinc which are combined to form soft and silvery looking paste which hardens on setting. This filling material is used for restoration of the form and function of teeth. Dental amalgum has been used extensively for many years in dentistry as a choice material for fillings though in recent years there has been much debate about the safety of the material and more specifically about the safety of mercury used in the mixture. Over a years , amalgum has proved to be a stable and useful restorative material. Your dentist will advise you on whether he still recommends the use of this material for filling or not.
*COMPOSITE RESINS: Aesthethic results using tooth coloured composite resin filling materials are excellent. Therefore composite resin mainly used for front teeth and small holes in the back teeth. Under suitable circumstances composite resins may also be used to change tooth colour shape and size to improve the smile.
*GLASS IONOMER CEMENTS(GIC): GIC is another type of tooth filling material which is commonly used for baby teeth filling close to the gum and root area. It bonds the tooth structure and releases fluoride to help strengthen teeth and prevent decay. However the problem with GIC is that it is weaker and wears faster than composite resins and amalgum. It is also not as effective as composite resins in terms of colour.
2.INFECTED TEETH.
PULPOTOMY : A pulpotomy or a coronal pulp amputation(pulpectomy) are types pf treatment which involve the removal of part of vital pulp. The pulp is living part of the tooth which contains nerves and blood vessels amongst other things. A pulpotomy removes infected tissue and leaves healthy tissue behind to allow healing or growth of the root. In pulpectomy the tissue of the root canal is removed as well. It will be recommended to you, If the dentist thinks it is the treatment of choice.
EXTRACTION:extraction means the removal of a tooth from the jaw, usually using instruments called forceps or elevators. An extraction can also be carried out surgically when the dentist needs to make extra incisions or remove some bony tissue to get the tooth to come out. Surgical extractions are carried out when a normal or straightforward extraction is not possible. There are few guidelines to be followed if your child has had a tooth extracted.
*The mouth should not be rinsed out vigorously for some time(usually 24 hours afterwards)*The mouth should be kept clean and the remaining teeth should be brushed as normal.
*You may be given advice on how to stop bleeding from the socket afterwards.
3.MISSING TEETH:
SPACE MAINTAINER: A space maintainer is a removable or fixed appliance designed to maintain a space created by the early loss of a primary tooth in the mouth. Space maintainers are usually fitted in a child's mouth when he or she has lost a primary tooth early and the gap left needs to be held open to allow the permanent tooth to erupt in the correct position. There are many different designs of the space maintainer and the materials normally used are metal or acrylic.