Child Dentistry - Dr. Gargi Kandhari
                     Child Dentistry - Dr. Gargi Kandhari
This is the branch of dentistry which treats children and takes care of 
their oral health from birth to adolescence. Nowadays early childhood 
dental caries an infectious disease is spreading like an epidemic. It is 
considered to be 5 times more common than asthma in children. 
According to the American Association of Paediatric Dentists every 
child should be taken to the dentist as soon as the first tooth erupts in 
the mouth or no later than the first birthday.
This serves two main purpose of Child Dentistry
This is the branch of dentistry which treats children and takes 
care of their oral health from birth to adolescence. Nowadays 
early childhood dental caries an infectious disease is spreading 
like an epidemic. It is considered to be 5 times more common 
than asthma in children. According to the American Association 
of Paediatric Dentists every child should be taken to the dentist 
as soon as the first tooth erupts in the mouth or no later than 
the first birthday.
Various treatments carried out under this 
category are:
A) Oral health exam and caries risk assessment for the child.
B) Preventive oral care regimen including scaling or cleaning 
and Fluoride therapy in patients with high caries risk.
C) Interception of oral habits like thumb sucking, tongue thrust 
ect and providing habit breaking appliances. 
D) Early orthodontic assessment of teeth for children and 
providing removable appliances to enhance fixed orthodontic 
treatment.
E) Sealing pits and grooves on milk and permanent teeth to 
prevent caries or dental decay.
Various treatments carried out under this 
category are:
F) Removal of caries and using fluoride releasing materials.
G) Root canal therapies for children known as pulpotomy or 
pulpectomy. This is very essential in order to prevent spread of 
infection especially in developing permanent teeth buds.
H) Gum care and treatment of soft tissue conditions like 
mucocele, oral ulcers, hypertrophic gingival growth. Also care of 
periodontal health and treating periodontal conditions.
I) Oral surgical treatments including all types of extractions, cyst 
enucleation ect
J) Treatment of oral trauma and injuries.
Teaching and maintaining good oral hygiene at home from an early 
age is of utmost importance. children’s teeth should be brushed and 
cleaned immediately after eruption. A soft bristled toothbrush with a 
small head should be used. Also until the child learns to rinse out a 
non-fluoridated toothpaste should be used. Incorporating these basic 
oral hygiene habits in the child’s routine maintains the future oral 
health. 
There are various filling materials available for children which are 
medicated fillings. These are fluoride releasing agents which protect 
the teeth and help in remineralisation. These materials also prevent 
further decay or caries in teeth. Also topical fluoride therapy in the 
form of gels, foam, varnish or coating is a very good preventive 
therapy in children.  
Also children are highly prone to dental trauma and other soft tissue 
injury. After such an accident it is of utmost importance that the child 
is shown to a dentist to control and assess the injury. This also 
prevents further damage. If a child loses a tooth it should be 
immediately cleaned and stored in a suitable medium like saliva, milk 
or coconut water.
Thank You.