FAQS

Paediatric dentists provide oral health care to children from infancy through the teen years. Being an age-specific specialty, paediatric dentistry includes behaviour guidance, supervision of orofacial growth and development, caries prevention and risk assessment, care of special health care needs patients, pharmacological management, including sedation, and hospital dentistry, as well as other traditional fields of dentistry. A paediatric dentist caters to the dental needs of children throughout their ever-changing stages of development and treats conditions and diseases unique to growing individuals.

Ideally, a child should visit a dentist as soon as his or her first tooth erupts (usually around 6 months of age). The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends that a child go to the dentist no later than his or her first birthday or within six months after the first tooth erupts.

Children generally begin to get their baby teeth at around 6 months of age. However, they may appear as early as 4 months of age or as late as 15 months. By around 3 years of age, all 20 baby teeth would have erupted.

Baby teeth typically begin to loosen and fall out to make room for permanent teeth at about 6 years of age. By around 12 years of age, all baby teeth have shed and are replaced by permanent teeth. All 32 of the permanent teeth usually erupt by the age of 21.

Starting at birth, clean your child’s gums with a soft cloth and water. Use a soft toothbrush and water as soon as the first tooth erupts. Parents should use a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste to brush baby teeth twice daily from around 18 months of age. The amount of toothpaste should be increased to a pea-sized dollop at 3 years of age. Children require supervised brushing until they are 8 years old.

The size of the toothbrush head and its bristle type are more important factors to consider than the brand of the toothbrush. We recommend using a soft toothbrush with a small head as it is less likely to cause gum injuries and also reaches the back areas of the mouth more effectively, thus providing a thorough cleaning. Replace toothbrushes every three to four months or as soon as the bristles are worn out or if your child has been sick. Make sure your child uses a fluoride-containing toothpaste, as it helps prevent dental decay.

Brushing technique is suggested according to the child’s age. For young children, clean 2–3 teeth at a time using circular motions. Do not forget to brush the inner surfaces of the teeth. Use the Two-by-Two rule – brush twice a day for two minutes. Refer to our blog for more elaborate details.

X-rays are a valuable diagnostic tool in dentistry and play an important role in forming the treatment plan. With our modern X-ray units, which have exposure settings designed differently for adults and children, we are able to limit the X-ray exposure to follow the ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) principle. We use high-speed films and digital X-rays to ensure safety and minimize the amount of radiation.

A dental sealant is a thin, protective plastic coating usually placed on the chewing surfaces of back teeth. Sealants protect these vulnerable sites from bacterial attack by preventing food lodgement, thus preventing dental caries. We can decide which teeth need to receive a sealant application based on your child’s caries risk status.

Orthodontic treatment is a way of moving or straightening teeth so as to improve one’s appearance as well as the functioning of the teeth. It also helps to take care of the long-term health of your teeth, gums, and jaw joints.

When teeth don’t meet correctly, they put strain on the jaw muscles, causing jaw and joint problems and sometimes even headaches. Orthodontic treatment moves the teeth into a better position to help you bite more evenly. This reduces any undue extra forces by spreading the biting pressure over all your teeth. It also aligns the teeth well making them easier to clean. Needless to say, orthodontic treatment can also improve one’s appearance for that perfect smile!

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children receive an orthodontic evaluation by age 7. This provides early detection of problems and a greater opportunity for more effective treatment. Early interceptive treatment is performed between the ages of 7 and 10, before all of the permanent teeth have erupted.

Ideal timing for orthodontic treatment ranges between the ages of 12 and 16, once most of their permanent teeth have erupted. This positions all the permanent teeth in such a way as to maximize their appearance and function.

Orthodontic treatment during adulthood can dramatically improve your personal appearance and confidence, along with providing better-positioned teeth. We, at AIMIL Junior Smiles, offer several treatment options for adults, including discrete braces.

A full mouth examination is important before we can start executing the treatment. This usually includes looking at your teeth, taking dental x-rays, and making models of your teeth and their analysis. We will then discuss all the treatment options available as per the child’s needs.

There may not be adequate space available in your jaws to accommodate all your permanent teeth. If so, we may need to take some teeth out to make space. We will tell you beforehand whether or not this is required. Sometimes space can be made using other forms of treatment as well.

Sometimes, orthodontic treatment may be carried out using a removable plate that can be taken out and placed back into the mouth by the patient. A thorough examination and investigation can determine if teeth can be moved into better positions by a removable brace. A removable brace makes fixed orthodontic correction easier.

These are the most common type of braces used, and they’re called that because you can’t take them out yourself. A fixed brace can guide teeth more accurately than a removable brace. It consists of bands and brackets that are temporarily pasted to the teeth.

The brackets may be made of metal, ceramic, or plastic. Metal braces are the most common, and most people would picture these when they hear the word “braces.” They are made of stainless steel.

Ceramic braces are the same size and shape as metal braces, except that they are tooth-colored. This makes them esthetically more pleasing.

Invisalign consists of a series of custom-made clear plastic aligners, which are almost invisible. The aligners are removable and are replaced every few weeks. They can be easily removed for eating, drinking, brushing, and cleaning.

Lingual braces are the same as traditional metal braces, except that the brackets and wires are placed on the inner surface of teeth and are invisible from the outside.

It may take from a few months to two and a half years, depending upon various factors like the severity of the condition, the general health of the teeth, age, etc. Most cases can be treated in one to two years.

Retainers are worn as the final phase of orthodontic treatment. These can be removable appliances or ones that are fixed to the teeth. These help hold the teeth in their new position until the surrounding bone hardens. Your teeth will shift from these newly achieved positions if a retainer is not worn. The orthodontist can tell you how long you need to wear your retainer. Mostly, it is recommended to wear your retainer for 22 hours per day during the first 4-6 months, following which nighttime wear is advised.

All appliances may feel strange at first and can cause some discomfort. Nonetheless, this feeling settles soon as one gets adapted to the pressure of the wires and the elastics. The initial discomfort is manageable and we may prescribe some medicines for the same. Diet modification is also recommended in the beginning as it may be more comfortable for you to have softer foods during the first few days.

Adjustments usually need to be made every 6 to 10 weeks. Your progress, oral hygiene maintenance, etc. are also determined during these visits.

The success of your orthodontic treatment depends not only on the skills of your orthodontist but also on the patient’s and parents’ cooperation and commitment. It is important that you follow all the instructions given by the orthodontist and be regular with your appointments. For a better outcome, it is important that the patient be as enthusiastic about and willing to accept the treatment as the parent.

Your teeth need extra care during orthodontic treatment. Braces themselves do not cause damage, but they may cause more plaque buildup than usual due to poor cleaning at the retentive sites of braces. Oral hygiene maintenance thus plays a crucial role.

The first thing to do is to visit your dentist and get their advice. Your dentist will examine your teeth, let you know whether or not you need treatment, and guide you accordingly.