Fluoride application, one of the preventive treatments performed in our Pediatric Clinic, incorporates fluoride into the structure of teeth. This strengthens the teeth and makes them more resistant to decay.
Another preventive procedure, fissure sealants, involves covering the grooves and pits on the chewing surfaces of permanent teeth with a flowable filling material.
Restorative treatments are performed on teeth with irreversible material loss caused by decay, where the nerve and blood vessel bundle has not yet been affected. In these cases, the infected tooth tissue is cleaned, and a permanent filling material is placed.
Root canal treatment involves the removal of infected or damaged pulp tissue, followed by the disinfection of the coronal and root canals, and sealing them with a filling. Unlike root canal treatments in adults, this procedure must consider specific criteria based on whether the root development of the tooth has been completed.
Stainless steel crowns are used to minimize microleakage and extend the lifespan of teeth, especially after root canal treatments in teeth with extensive material loss. Unlike crowns applied to adults, these crowns are prefabricated materials that can be adjusted to fit within the mouth. They are a long-lasting restoration option that can be completed in a single session.
Amputation is a treatment option specific to primary teeth. It involves removing a portion of the pulp tissue in teeth with deep decay while aiming to preserve the healthy tissue remaining in the roots of the tooth.
In some cases, damage to primary teeth may be so extensive that treatments like root canal therapy or amputation cannot be applied. In such situations, the extraction of the primary tooth is considered appropriate. Additionally, primary teeth may sometimes be lost due to trauma.
Primary teeth serve as guides for the permanent teeth beneath them. If primary teeth are lost prematurely due to decay or trauma, the adjacent teeth may shift into the empty space, leading to space loss. As a result, permanent teeth can develop crowding and bite alignment issues.
To prevent this, a space maintainer should be placed. Space maintainers are categorized into two types: fixed and removable. The type of space maintainer to be used is determined by the dentist based on the number and location of the lost teeth.
This procedure does not require anesthesia. A mold of the mouth is taken using materials specifically designed for children. The space maintainer is then prepared in a laboratory according to the type specified by the dentist. Finally, it is applied inside the mouth.
Fixed space maintainers are non-removable metal appliances bonded to the teeth using adhesive. They can only be applied and removed by a dentist and require periodic check-ups by the dentist.
Removable space maintainers are appliances that can be taken in and out by the child and are monitored by the dentist at regular intervals.
