Pediatric Dentistry

Pediatric Dentistry (Pedodontics): Strong, Cavity-Free Smiles for Healthy Generations

Protecting children's oral and dental health from infancy to young adulthood (0-15 years), treating cavities and monitoring jaw development are carried out by pediatric dentistry (pedodontics), a special specialty area of dentistry. Children's anatomical and psychological development is completely different from that of adults. For this reason, it is very important that little patients' dental treatments are carried out by dentists experienced in this field, with special approaches based on play and building trust.

The "They Will Fall Out Anyway" Misconception: Why Are Baby Teeth Important?

One of the most common misconceptions among parents in our society is that cavities in baby teeth are ignored because they will fall out anyway. Yet baby teeth have a vital role not only for the child's nutrition and clear speech but also for the permanent teeth.

Baby teeth are natural "space maintainers" that hold the place of the permanent teeth that will come in beneath them. A baby tooth lost early causes neighboring teeth to drift toward the gap and the permanent tooth below to be unable to erupt (remain impacted) or to come in crooked. This paves the way for long and costly orthodontic (braces) treatment later on. In addition, untreated cavities in baby teeth lead to severe pain, abscesses and a negative effect on the child's general health.

When Should Your Child's First Dental Examination Be?

The World Health Organization (WHO) and pediatric dentistry associations recommend that a baby's first dental examination be done after the first baby tooth erupts (usually between the 6th month and 1 year of age). The main purpose of this early visit is not to perform dental treatment but to inform parents about proper nutrition, baby bottle cavities and oral hygiene.

In addition, having the child "meet" the dentist in sessions before any cavities or pain is the most effective way to prevent dental fear (dental phobia) later on. Presenting the dental chair as a fun environment helps the child approach dental treatments positively for life.

Preventing Cavities Before They Form: Preventive Dentistry

The most basic aim of pedodontics is not to treat teeth after they decay but to prevent cavities from forming in the first place. The most common preventive treatments in this scope are:

• Fissure Sealant (Tooth Vaccine): The chewing surfaces of the back molars have deep grooves (fissures) where food gets stuck and starts cavities. A fissure sealant is the procedure of filling and smoothing these grooves with a transparent or white protective liquid. It is a painless procedure and reduces the risk of tooth decay by 80%.
• Fluoride Application (Fluoride Varnish): A protective varnish applied to the tooth surfaces to strengthen the enamel and make it more resistant to acid attacks. It is completely safe and very effective in stopping cavity formation.
• Space Maintainers: When a baby tooth is lost early, these are small, comfortable appliances prepared specially for the child's mouth and placed in the gap to hold the place of the permanent tooth coming from below.

A Reliable and Fun Environment for Pediatric Dentistry in Ankara

Whether your children sit in the dentist's chair with fear or with trust affects their whole oral health journey. In our pedodontics in Ankara (pediatric dentistry) practice, we put our little patients' psychology first and offer preventive and restorative dental services with approaches designed especially for them. You can contact our clinic to secure your child's healthy smile, have routine check-ups and take a step toward a cavity-free future.

Klinik 99 Oral and Dental Health Polyclinic Address: Güvenevler, Güvenlik Cd. No: 99 A-B, 06690 Çankaya/Ankara Phone: 0540 640 6006

Highlights of This Service

• Special approach for children
• Preventive treatments
• Fluoride application
• Fissure sealants