Pediatric Dentistry in Turkey, particularly in Istanbul, is known for high standards of pedodontics and oral care for children from birth to adulthood. Along with tremendous progress and continuous development, Turkey offers families visiting the remarkable city of Istanbul an opportunity to integrate dental health into their travel experiences. A dental appointment for your child at a Dentspa can be a part of your journey to Istanbul—a perfect blend of healthcare and leisure during your vacation.
What is pedodontics?
Pedodontics, or children’s dentistry, is a separate branch of all dentistry. Children’s Dentistry specialises in psychological adaptation and prevention for children in the dental office. Friendly relations between the doctor and the little patient, painless and high-quality treatment, and positive impressions are the key to regular dental care.
The age of initial orthodontic treatment in children is from 6 months to 18 years, although individual cases may vary. This is when the permanent teeth start to erupt, allowing orthodontists to assess the position of the teeth and detect any identified problems at an early stage. Common paediatric dental issues that may require intervention include caries, malocclusion, misalignment of the teeth or jaw, and early tooth loss, potentially requiring orthodontic intervention.
What is the difference between a paediatric dentist and an adult dentist?
Children’s dentists maintain the oral health of children from infancy to adolescence. They have experience and qualifications in caring for a child’s teeth, gums and oral cavity at various stages of development. All processes in kids proceed entirely differently than in adults. The differences are determined by the physiological structure of the forming jaws, the psychological approach, and the use of particular drugs and techniques. To treat dental problems in children, they must have special education and knowledge.
- Education: paediatric dentists play a huge role in educating patients and parents about oral care. Periodontists must ensure their patients have adequate information about good general hygiene. For example, they teach parents how to brush and floss their children’s teeth and introduce age-appropriate oral hygiene practices as the child grows.
- Preventive applications and early diagnosis: most children are prone to caries. A paediatric dentist provides preventive services such as tooth cleaning to prevent tooth decay. They also know how to detect and diagnose dental problems even in the early stages. This means dental treatment can be started early, reducing the risk of more serious dental disease.
- Treatment methods: a pedodontist can also diagnose and treat any dental problem as a general dentist. They can perform complex oral surgery and treat common dental problems. For example, they can extract teeth, restore broken teeth, fill cavities, and treat sensitive teeth. They can dispense prescription drugs and administer anaesthetics for various dental procedures. They can also treat dental diseases such as periodontal disease, gingivitis, and oral cavity diseases.
Why do children need a paediatric dentist?
A paediatric dentist knows more about kids than an adult doctor:
- know when a child’s teeth erupt.
- have the skills to remove milk/permanent teeth.
- distinguish the signs of milk and permanent teeth.
- to be able to treat milk teeth.
- know the exact doses of painkillers that are designed for children and do not cause them physical harm.
An essential and mandatory aspect of children’s dentistry is psychological. The doctor must quickly find an approach to the minor patient and instil trust in him. The child must ensure that the “dentist” is not scary, painful, or unsafe from the first visit.
When does your child need to see a pedodontist?
When the child’s first tooth erupts, further preventive visits should be done 1-2 times yearly. Some kids need to visit the dentist more often.
Teeth eruption usually starts during the first six months of a baby’s life. At age 6-7, children begin to lose their first teeth, which are later replaced by secondary permanent teeth.
What will the first visit be like?
The first dental treatment experience determines the attitude to treating and preventing diseases of the oral cavity the patient will form for the rest of his life. Therefore, the first dentist visit should not scare the child but reassure him that dentistry is a story about care, not pain.
Despite the enormous technological progress in dentistry, the fear of visiting the dentist remains one of the main problems today. It is most pronounced in young patients.
The children’s dentist recommends attending the first examination when the first teeth erupt. This consultation is necessary for parents to learn how to care for new and not yet fully mineralised teeth properly.
It would help if you did not wait for the first teeth to fall out; it is also needed to treat milk teeth. If the treatment of a milk tooth is delayed, it becomes a source of permanent infection, which harms the beginning of a permanent tooth. The sooner parents turn to a children’s dentist, the more successful adaptation and treatment will be.
It is crucial not to wait until the child is in pain. Otherwise, it will be challenging to adapt the child and carry out complex treatment. The paediatric dentist gets to know the child during preventive examinations to ensure proper adaptation before treatment. During the initial assessment, nothing will hurt them; the children’s dentist will show everything in detail and familiarise the child with all the “helpers” that may be needed for treatment in the future. A widespread situation is when a child has already had an unsuccessful experience in treatment and is not psychologically ready for all stages of treatment due to their age. In such cases, the paediatric dentist can treat the patient under medicated sleep (anaesthesia).
What types of procedures does children’s dentistry offer?
Children’s dentistry offers various services, from preventive visits to comprehensive treatment:
- Advises parents on the stages of teething, the changing from milk teeth to permanent teeth, and general issues of the child’s oral health
- Teaches oral hygiene to children and their parents. Helps to choose a brush paste according to the age of the child
- Provides professional oral hygiene and caries prevention
- Control of the development of the maxillofacial system;
- Primarily consults on issues of the child’s bite, refers the child to an orthodontist, and prepares the child’s oral cavity for orthodontic treatment.
- Removes of temporary teeth
- Adapts the child to dental treatment
- Treats caries and fills teeth
- Seales fissures
- Endodontic treatment of teeth (root canal treatment)
- Restoration of destroyed teeth with children’s crowns
- If necessary, engage in prosthetics for children’s teeth.
- Treatment of malocclusion and prevention of possible orthodontic complications
- Preventive examinations.
The most common orthodontic treatments by pedodontists are aligners and traditional braces.
Clear aligners are transparent plastic trays custom-made to fit over the teeth and gradually align them. They are removable, and are less noticeable with traditional braces, which can be an advantage, especially for teenagers.
Traditional braces are metal brackets attached to the teeth and connected by wires. They apply constant pressure to move the teeth into their proper positions gradually. They are highly effective for complex orthodontic issues and may be recommended for ensuring more significant tooth movement or correction of severe misalignment.
When is a visit to a paediatric dentist necessary?
There are several indications in which an appointment with a doctor becomes mandatory and emergency:
- dental plaque
- the first signs of caries development in the form of spots and darkening
- fistula on the gums (usually a consequence of inflammation)
- lump or bulge on the gums or swelling of the cheek
- complaints about painful sensations while eating
- acute pain, including sleep disturbances
Choosing a qualified paediatric dentist for your child is a critical task. After all, the baby should be comfortable, trust the doctors, and not be afraid of the procedures they perform. A good paediatrician can carry out manipulations in a playful manner, knows how to calm down, and performs everything from anaesthesia to treatment procedures as gradually as possible for the baby. Contact DentSpa for personalised dental inquiries.
Why DentSpa?
Our practice boasts highly qualified and experienced doctors who lead our team. They are experts in their field with excellent academic background and provide top-notch care using the latest technology. We prioritise using high-quality materials to ensure the best outcomes for our patients. We offer comprehensive care and aftercare to ensure your child’s dental needs are met excellently.
Ready to experience the best in pediatric dental care? Contact us today to schedule an appointment for your child at DentSpa!
FAQs: Pediatric Dentistry in Turkey
When does my child need to see a pedodontist?
When the child’s first tooth erupts.Teeth eruption usually starts during the first six months of a baby’s life. At age 6-7, children begin to lose their first teeth, which are later replaced by secondary permanent teeth.
How often should my child see a paediatric dentist?
Preventive visits should be done 1-2 times yearly. Some kids need to visit the dentist more often.
Are baby teeth important, even though they will fall out eventually?
Yes, baby teeth play a crucial role in speech development, chewing, and guiding permanent teeth into place.
Is sedation dentistry safe for children?
When administered by a trained professional, sedation dentistry is generally safe and effective for managing anxiety during dental procedures.
How can I help my child maintain good oral hygiene?
Encourage regular brushing and flossing, limit sugary snacks and drinks, and schedule routine dental check-ups for preventive care.
The health of baby teeth is the key to healthy permanent teeth in adulthood.
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