Child Dental Care Ahmedabad | Pediatric Dentist in Ahmedabad | dentistry for children in Ahmedabad

Pit and Fissure Sealant

Teeth have natural dips or grooves in them, known as pits and fissures. It’s all very groovy in one sense, but when it comes to keeping your children’s teeth clean and free of cavities, pits and fissures aren’t groovy at all.

Pits and fissures house bacteria and other substances which can cause tooth decay , and these grooves can’t always be properly cleaned with a normal toothbrush. The dentists have developed pit and fissure sealants which can fill and seal the grooves your teeth and prevent bacteria getting in. They make teeth easier to clean and reduce the risk of experiencing tooth decay.

Fissure sealants are recommended for filling the adult or primary teeth of children who have a high risk of developing cavities. And even children who brush and floss regularly can be considered high risk, depending for example on the amount of fluoride they consume and the shape of their teeth (particularly the groovy parts).

FAQs

What are sealants?

Sealants are a safe and painless way of protecting your teeth from decay. A sealant is a protective plastic coating, which is applied to the biting surfaces of the back teeth. The sealant forms a hard shield that keeps food and bacteria from getting into the tiny grooves in the teeth and causing decay.

Which teeth should be sealed?

Sealants are only applied to the back teeth - the molars and premolars. These are the teeth that have ‘pits' (small hollows) and ‘fissures' (grooves) on their biting surfaces. Your dental team will tell you which teeth should be sealed after they have examined them, and checked whether the fissures are deep enough for sealing to help. Some teeth naturally have deep grooves which will need to be sealed; others have shallow ones which will not need sealing.

Will I feel it?

No, it is totally pain free, and the teeth do not feel any different afterwards.

Do I still have to clean my teeth?

Yes. It is still very important to do this. The smooth, sealed surface is now much easier to keep clean and healthy with normal brushing. Using a fluoride toothpaste, last thing at night and at least one other time during the day, will help to protect your teeth. Pit and fissure sealing reduces tooth decay and the number of fillings you might need.

How long do pit and fissure sealants last?

Sealants usually last for many years, but your dental team will want to check them regularly to make sure that the seal is still intact. They can wear over time, and sometimes the dental team need to add or replace some sealant to be sure that no decay can start underneath it.

How do pit and fissure sealants work?

The sealant forms a smooth, protective barrier by covering all the little grooves and dips in the surface of the tooth. Dental decay easily starts in these grooves if they are not sealed.

When should this be done?

Sealants are often applied as soon as the first permanent teeth start to come through. This is usually between 6 and 7 years of age. The rest are usually sealed as soon as they appear which can be any time between 11 and 14 years of age.

Pulpotomy

Pulpotomy is when pulp chamber is inflamed. It occurs usually on a baby molar, which is removed. That area is sterilized and the chamber is sealed. It can also be done in a permanent teeth. It is a common procedure in children and has a good success rate.

FAQs

Are Root Canals Necessary With Children?

Baby teeth respond well to the removal of a diseased part of the dental pulp (nerve) while leaving the healthy portion intact. The cavity will be removed from the tooth in addition to the portion of the pulp that has been infected by the bacteria of the cavity. A disinfectant is placed on top of the remaining pulp, the tooth is sealed and a crown (silver cap) is placed over the tooth. This allows the tooth to stay vital (alive) in the mouth.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a pulpotomy?

The obvious benefit is that the tooth is maintained in service and holds the space for the developing permanent tooth below it. The disadvantages are teeth that receive nerve treatments likely require a crown (sliver cap) to be placed on the tooth to provide adequate strength. Occasionally, the bacteria invade the nerve completely and a pulpotomy fails and the tooth must be removed, but the risk is low.

Are there alternatives?

Alternatives include removal of the tooth (with the diseased nerve) and placement of a space maintainer, which allows the room to be “held open” for the permanent tooth to erupt between the ages of 10-11 years old.

What is the result of non-treatment?

Usually the patient will experience continued and increased pain and infection. There is also a risk of damage to the underlying permanent tooth below the infected primary (baby) tooth. Ignored nerve infection will usually result in an abscess and require removal of the tooth.

Space Maintainers

Space maintainers are used to help hold the space for permanent tooth. Space maintainers are used when your child loses teeth prematurely either due to tooth decay or naturally.

With space maintainers, the child has to see a doctor every 6 months for professional cleaning.

FAQs

Why do children lose their baby teeth?

A baby tooth usually stays in until a permanent tooth underneath pushes it out and takes its place. Unfortunately, some children lose a baby tooth too soon. A tooth might be knocked out accidentally or removed because of dental disease. When a tooth is lost too early,

What are space maintainers?

Space maintainers hold open the empty space left by a lost tooth. They steady the remaining teeth, preventing movement until the permanent tooth takes its natural position in the jaw. It’s more affordable – and easier on your child – to keep teeth in normal positions with a space maintainer than to move them back in place with orthodontic treatment.

How does a lost baby tooth cause problems for permanent teeth?

If a baby tooth is lost too soon, the teeth beside it may tilt or drift into the empty space. Teeth in the other jaw may move up or down to fill the gap. When adjacent teeth shift into an empty space, they create a lack of space in the jaw for the permanent teeth. So, permanent teeth are crowded and come in crooked. If left untreated, the condition may require extensive orthodontic treatment.

How long will my child wear a kids space maintainer?

Kids space maintainers can be there for a long time, but they are never permanent. They are typically removed when the new, permanent tooth begins to a erupt or nearby abutment teeth become loose.

Mouth Guards

Injuries to mouth and jaw are common to children playing sports. Mouth guards help to protect your child’s teeth in such cases.

Mouth guards must be tear resistant and doesn’t prevent from breathing.

Mouth guards are compulsory if the child is wearing braces or retainer.

Children/pediatric Dentistry

Children / pediatric Dentistry

Pit and Fissure Sealant

FAQs

What are sealants?

Which teeth should be sealed?

Will I feel it?

Do I still have to clean my teeth?

How long do pit and fissure sealants last?

How do pit and fissure sealants work?

When should this be done?

Pulpotomy

FAQs

Are Root Canals Necessary With Children?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a pulpotomy?

Are there alternatives?

What is the result of non-treatment?

Space Maintainers

FAQs

Why do children lose their baby teeth?

What are space maintainers?

How does a lost baby tooth cause problems for permanent teeth?

How long will my child wear a kids space maintainer?

Mouth Guards