A dentist is necessary in the maintenance and supervision of a child's oral cavity health
. Even babies need to have their oral cavity checked to give the parents and the dental professional a chance to asses it for any possible issues in the future.
Maintenance
Parents are encouraged to bring their babies in for a checkup as soon as the first tooth shows itself to give the dentist a chance to assess the condition of the gums and the oral cavity. It is important to do this because cavities can appear when there is no maintenance and care. Plaque can also appear when the parents do not make any effort towards oral hygiene and maintenance. This is entirely up to the parents because the baby still cannot take care of herself in almost all the aspects. The dental professional will recommend a gentle way to clean the existing tooth as well as what to do when the others follow. Bottle-feeding and thumb sucking are points of concern for the dental professional because these can have an effect on the future of the pearly whites. It is also a good idea to regularly visit the clinic in order to establish a good impression on the child regarding the pediatric professional who might be taking care of her teeth for the next several years. Parents should also ask about fluoride supplements. These may be necessary if the area where they live does not have water that is supplemented. Most of the drinking water supplied by the government has supplements but some remote areas might not have.
The dentist should also be concerned about the maintenance of primary teeth. Some parents do not mind these because they believe that the permanent ones that appear around seven are more important. The reality of it is that the placement of the temporary ones will dictate the settings of the permanent ones. The early loss of temporary teeth can lead to crooked teeth in the future. This is primarily because the empty space it leaves behind can encourage the other teeth to shift their places.
The shift can lead to crooked permanent teeth and the need for orthodontic help in the future. There are some measures that the dental professional can do to ensure that the temporary pearly whites do not shift to the empty spaces but this will require the use of space maintainers. Older children will need to be taught how to clean and maintain their teeth properly. Haphazardly brushing will lead to poor dental hygiene and possibly the accumulation of plaque and development of cavities. A dentist might also recommend the use of a sealant to cover the enamel of the existing set to prevent it from developing cavities. The professional will need to ask the parents if they agree to the use of the sealant before it can be applied.
There are many other points, which parents and children need to be aware of when it comes to oral cavity care. The dentist can enlighten them regarding most, if not all of these points.