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Just because baby teeth are temporary, that doesn’t mean this first set is not important. On the contrary, the care you take now will impact your child’s health into adulthood. In fact, primary teeth serve some crucial functions.
First, baby teeth act as guides for the underlying adult set. They are space holders until these permanent teeth erupt. The tops of adult teeth push the baby teeth out when it is time for them to take their spot.
Furthermore, the primary teeth will be needed for most of childhood. This will be used to chew, bite, and form words properly. Until age six or so, this first set will hold down the fort. Around 12 years of age, your child will have a mix of baby and adult teeth. Therefore, it is a must to keep the primary teeth safe and healthy. The goal is for each one to fall out naturally at the right time.
At Pleasure Dental, we offer several treatments and procedures to safeguard children’s teeth against decay and premature loss. We can also make any necessary repairs. They include, but are not limited to:
Fluoride Treatments: Professional fluoride applied topically at our dental office provides maximum cavity protection. In addition, fluoridated toothpaste, mouth rinses, and tap water also help make young teeth more resistant to decay.
Dental Sealants: A clear plastic layer can be painted onto tooth surfaces for added cavity protection. Sealants are applied to the deep grooves on the chewing surfaces of back teeth. These pits and fissures are the perfect hiding areas for bacteria and leftover food debris. Young enamel is less resistant to decay because it is more permeable. For that reason, dental sealants are applied when the adult molars erupt to provide years of extra protection.
Root Canal Therapy: Like adults, sometimes kids need root canals to save a badly decayed or injured tooth. As mentioned, primary teeth serve an important function. Therefore, keeping them in place can help avoid a bad bite and a future need for orthodontic treatment.
Most malocclusions become evident by age seven. If your child has interceptive orthodontic care at this time, it can help correct improper jaw growth and tooth positioning. As a result, it may eliminate or reduce the need for treatment later. In fact, many bite issues can be detected early with regular dental care.