How to treat caries of primary teeth in children: features of treatment

Teeth play a huge role in maintaining human health, therefore, careful treatment of them is necessary from an early age. Many parents are in no hurry to show their child to the dentist, believing that baby teeth can not be treated, because they will still change. Why torture a child? This is a very serious error. What is fraught with such a position, we will consider in this article.

What is dangerous untreated caries in children?

Caries, by definition, is a pathological process in which solid enamel softens and then forms empty cavities. It is dangerous because it is an infectious disease, and the bacteria that caused it are easy then move to permanent teeth a child, putting his new teeth at constant risk.

Carious cavities in milk teeth serve as a repository of pathogenic microflora, which affects not only the condition of permanent teeth, but also the general condition of the child.

Complications of caries are especially dangerous when a purulent infection gets into soft tissues, causing serious consequences such as abscess, phlegmon and even sepsis. The same infection with a weakened immunity gives complications on the nose, ears and throat.

In addition, the presence of carious untreated teeth has the following effects:

1. To feed the child, limiting it in the diet. Especially if you already have a reaction to the cold, hot and sweet.
2. On the quality of life of the baby. Pain and dental suffering is not easy to endure, even for an adult, not to mention the baby.
3. On the communication side of the child's life. After all, ugly teeth expose him to ridicule from peers. In addition, the teeth are involved in the formation of the baby’s sounds and colloquial speech.

Therefore, the main task of the parents is the socialization of the child and dental health plays an important role here. The decision of the parents not to treat tooth decay, but immediately removing a rotten tooth can lead to early removal of milk teeth. And it threatens the child delayed teething and malocclusion.

So, treat tooth decay just needed, especially since today there is a large arsenal of various means for this.

When to bring your baby to the dentist

The American Pediatric Dentistry Association recommends a first visit to the dentist in the performance of the year to the baby. Our moms often wonder why in a year to go to the dentist.

The doctor will examine the child and will give advice on the following questions: how to properly care for your teeth and protect yourself from injuries to your teeth, how to properly feed your child and tell you about the anti-caries diet.

This is also useful because one of the reasons for the onset of caries is wrong teeth care. A caries of primary teeth is different in that the development of this infection can occur quickly and several teeth can suffer.

Therefore, the next visit to the dentist should be planned. in the second year of a child's life, so as not to miss the onset of the disease, because today statistics says that 12% of children in their first years of life are subject to the formation of caries.

The causes of decay of milk teeth

Doctors say that the strength of the teeth of the baby is laid even during mommy's pregnancy. Lack of calcium in the body the child leads to the early development of caries of the first milk teeth.

This is a genetic component that can occur if the pregnancy is accompanied by complications, the use of drugs, and even when the expectant mother smokes in the first trimester of pregnancy.

But the main reasons for the development of caries of milk teeth in children are the reasons listed below.

• Pathogenic effects of carbohydrates, eaten, especially - children's sweets. During the fermentation of carbohydrates acids are formed, which adversely affect children's enamel, destroying it. Excessive consumption of sweet creates a permanent, harmful environment in the mouth of the child.
• Transmission of caries infections can occur from adults when using common utensils, licking a baby spoon and even when kissing loving parents of their offspring.
• Caries in children under 2 years old are referred to as a “bottle” type, since improper use of the nipple is its provoking factor. If a child drinks sweet water from a bottle while falling asleep with it, then a long contact of the liquid with the teeth may well lead to a rapid spread of caries infection.
• In children, caries can provoke chronic diseases and the use of drugs, from which the composition of saliva changes. Another factor is the lack of solid food that requires a chewing reflex with the release of abundant saliva, which naturally washes the mouth.
• Lack of fluoride and calcium in water and food.
• Improper care for baby teeth. The need for their cleaning arises from the moment when the baby has cut its first teeth. Even babies need to wipe them with ordinary gauze, wound on her mother's finger. And with one and a half years it is necessary to teach the child to use a toothbrush.

At the age of 4–5 years, it is imperative to check how the child independently copes with the procedure of cleaning their teeth. The example of parents here serves as a strong motivating moment. If the mother constantly purposefully reminds the baby that her teeth should be brush morning and evening and she participates in this procedure, then, most likely, the problem of caries will pass the child.

Classification of caries

Types of caries of primary teeth in children, as in adults, must be distinguished by type, localization, intensity. There are the following types of children's caries.

1. Elementary. This is the earliest stage when it is still possible to manage with preventive measures, for example, on the recommendation of a doctor, to lubricate the tooth with fluoride preparations to strengthen the enamel. This type is manifested by a small white spot on the tooth surface. A stain can develop rapidly, change color, first to yellow, then to brown and black.
2. Surface. This type is characterized by pain on the sweet and sour, externally, you can observe a light carious cavity, which is located within the enamel.
3. Average. This is when the carious cavity destroyed the enamel and began to destroy the inside of the tooth, while there is pain for hot and cold.
4. Deep. Here dentin is affected, and the infection can spread to the pulp. To avoid complications, immediate treatment is necessary.

The most common type of caries in children - this is the cervicalwhen they are affected by the area near the root of the tooth. The second most popular - plane caries. This covers the entire surface of the tooth, especially in the chewing side.

The intensity distinguishes individual caries and multiple lesions, which is a feature of the development of caries in children. The rapid defeat of several teeth at once is a common occurrence in babies. More distinguished primary and secondary caries, as well as complicated and not complicated.

What signs should alert parents

How not to miss the beginning caries of the child? What should parents give an urgent visit to the dentist?

• the appearance of strange stains on the teeth, which are visible upon visual inspection of the child’s mouth;
• bad breath, even after cleaning the mouth;
• painful complaints during meals;
• change in the behavior of the child during the meal, when he tries not to chew on the side that bothers him.

Caries can be almost asymptomatic, so parents should do inspection more often child's oral cavity.

How to treat caries in children

Previously, silvering of teeth was used to treat caries in children, and cement fillings were placed. Today, the treatment is at a new level, many new methods that, like in adults, are being successfully implemented in pediatric dentistry.

For example, replacing the old treatment with colloidal silver came new teeth restoration methods. Of course, nobody canceled the drill, but there appeared many alternative methods that spare the child’s psyche that do not use drilling.

Alternative methods of treatment of children's caries

All alternative methods are used in the early stages of caries development: initial and surface.

1. Carrying out the restoration of the mineral structure of the tooth (remineralization) using calcium, sodium solutions. This procedure requires patience from parents, because covering the teeth with a special toothpaste should be performed within six months, possibly at home.
2. Deep fluoridation. Also, the tooth is coated with a special paste on an ongoing basis for 3 months. Allows you to strengthen the enamel and slow down the caries process.
3. Novation is the Ikon method, which in one visit to the dentist helps to save a child from caries. The essence of the method is as follows: a gel with an acid is applied to the stain, which removes the enamel layer, and then a high-flowable polymer is applied to this place, hardening it with a light lamp. Reliable and durable tooth protection.
4. Manual tooth processing without the use of a drill with special tools - ART-technique. The essence of the method: hand tools, the cavity is cleaned, treated with antiseptics and poured into it glassy cement, saturated with fluoride. Even with residual untreated parts of the cavity, it is possible to halt the process of destruction of the baby tooth and relieve pain.
5. Sometimes in the initial stage of caries it is suggested to use the procedure of ozone therapy, which disinfects the oral cavity, removing carious bacteria.

The classic method of caries treatment

If caries has already developed, then it will have to be treated with a standard method, using drilling out a carious cavity and sealing it. And the parent's task is prepare the child for this procedure, to form a positive attitude towards the doctor.

Children's doctors today, in order to arouse children's interest in treatment, install colored fillings, which the child can choose for his own taste. This is quite a strong motivation for a child, who can then boast of his beautiful teeth in front of friends. Treatment with a drill provides for anesthesia little patients.

And before the injection, the doctor anesthetizes the injection site with a special gel. The treatment procedure should not exceed 30 minutes, otherwise the child will get tired. Required frequent breaks in the treatment procedure.

If the baby behaves very restlessly, then doctors recommend 20 minutes before admission to give him a tablet of child Tenoten for resorption. Medicine significantly reduces anxiety, improves mood and removes fear.

In modern dental centers, parents can offer a sedation procedure for children who do not respond to treatment, categorically rejecting it. Using a mask with nitrous oxide baby immersed in shallow sleepfollowed by anesthesia and then treatment.

As an extreme measure anesthesia is applied, but only according to the testimony of a pediatrician. So as not to bring the children to deep caries need to know preventive measures against it.

Prevention of caries of milk teeth

All measures for the prevention of caries can be divided into systemic and local.

To the system include:

• restriction in the use of carbohydrates (especially sweets);
• the inclusion in the diet of more fruits and vegetables, solid foods that require chewing;
• frequent use of products containing calcium: cottage cheese, milk, cheese, dried apricots;
• compulsory multivitaminization with special complexes, including vitamin D and calcium. (on the recommendation of a doctor).

Local events include:

• Proper and constant care of teeth (cleaning, rinsing) since 2 years.
• On the recommendation of the doctor, the use of deep fluoridation of teeth. The procedure of applying fluoridation drugs creates a protective barrier to microorganisms that destroy children's enamel.

A comprehensive approach to the health of the baby will help parents avoid the problem with milk teeth.

Related posts:

Caries in children and adults: characteristics and photos

Silvering teeth in children: features of the procedure and reviews

Is it necessary to treat milk teeth in children: recommendations of dentists