Are Child's Teeth on Schedule?
Children's teeth are somewhat like trains or airplanes. If they don't arrive on schedule, you (or rather your child) may be in for a problem. How do you know if the permanent teeth are replacing the primaries on schedule? Here's the ballpark timetable for you to use a reference.
Between the age of 7 to 10, he should have four permanent incisors in front as well as primary canine, first and second molar, and permanent 6-year molar on each side. This gives him a total of 12 teeth in each dental arch.
By the time he's 12, he should have lost the primary (baby) molars. The permanent premolars should have worked their way through his gums to replace them. So should the permanent canine teeth. The last step is for all four 12- year molars to emerge behind the 6-year molars. This should happen between the ages of 11 and 13.
There is no exact date when all permanent teeth should be in. But there is normal schedule of events. If your child is not on schedule there may be a problem. You'll need Dr. Patenaude's help to correct it.
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Cage for Tongue Thrusting
If you have a child who has the tongue-thrusting habit, you should ask Dr. Patenaude how this habit can best be cured before it causes serious dental problems. In tongue-thrusting, a child thrusts his tongue forward and pushes it against either his upper teeth, his upper and lower teeth, or his lower teeth. This can create an opening between his upper and lower teeth, even when he closes his jaws to chew. It also tends to put extra pressure on the rear teeth and pushes the front teeth forward, throwing them out of alignment. This not only detracts from his appearance but can cause tooth decay and gum disease. One of the devices used to cure this problem is a tongue cage, which is often used in combination with special exercises. This appliance consists of bands connected to the back teeth and a wire that comes around behind the child's front teeth. This will prevent the tongue from coming forward and closing up the space between the upper and lower teeth. The child must be old enough to understand what Dr. Patenaude is trying to do.
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Care During Pregnancy
Sometimes certain hormonal change that occur during pregnancy may lead to puffiness and bleeding of the gums. This usually subsides after the baby is born. But it should not be ignored when it happens. Nor should any other dental problem during pregnancy&Regular and physical checkups to help you stay as health as possible. For your own sake as well as your baby's, are especially important during pregnancy.. That should also include dental checkups so any decay or infection can be treated. See your dentist for a checkup so any dental problem you have can be treated to help keep your teeth and your body in good health.
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Child with Periodontal Disease
If you've noticed that your child has swollen gums that tend to bleed when he's brushing, this could be an early sign of periodontal disease and should be treated without delay.
Periodontal disease is an infection of the gums and other tissues that support the teeth. This is much more common in adults but no less serious when it happens to children. It is caused by plaque or bacteria that forms along the gum line, making the gums swollen and tender. Left untreated, the plaque will harden into calculus or tartar, increasing the decay area and infection. This causes the gums to separate from the teeth, leaving pockets for the further spread of decay and infection. Eventually periodontal disease attacks and destroys the bones that support the teeth, causing the affected teeth to loosen and fall out.
Protect your child's health with regular dental checkups and seek treatment whenever a sign of dental health problems, such as bleeding gums, appears.
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How Fluoride Helps You
If you use fluoride toothpaste, drink water with the recommended level of fluoride, and get regular checkups, your teeth have a much better chance of fighting dental decay. Fluoride is a mineral found naturally in water and many foods. In drinking water, the recommended level is one part fluoride to one million parts water. In many communities where the natural fluoride level doesn't meet this standard, just the right amount fluoride is added to the water supply. The reason is simple: fluoride helps prevent tooth decay. Fluoride strengthens tooth enamel. It works its way in the enamel crystals and makes teeth harder and more decay-resistant. It is particularly helpful to infants and young children whose enamel is still in the formative stages. Statistics abound on its success of keeping decay to a minimum.
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How Sealants are Applied
Sealants protect tooth surfaces from decay, especially with children. The procedures used in applying sealants are simple, safe and completely painless. No local anesthesia is required. A liquid or gel is applied to the enamel for 60 seconds, etching it to a depth of a few microns. (A micron is a thousandth of a millimeter) a liquid plastic is placed over the etched surface. It seeps into all the jagged peaks and valleys created by the etching.
Some sealants harden by themselves. Others are hardened by a high-intensity fiber-optic ultraviolet light which is shined on the teeth like a flashlight. If the groove is over filled, normal chewing and biting wears off the excess material quickly. The material that had filled the depth of the pits and fissures is very strong and resistant to wear. Even when the sealant has worn away it will remain deep in the crevices, sealing and protecting the tooth from decay. Sealants are one reason why children have fewer cavities today.
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How Your Sleep Affects Your Teeth
How important is your sleep posture to your dental health? More important than you may think. Researchers, dating back to the early 1930's have discovered that certain malocclusions (bad bites) develop because of long-standing sleeping habits. Dentally speaking, we are now aware that sleeping on your side can cause improper bites in the back teeth and jaw joints, possible headache problems and even the development of overbite and underbite. The solution is simple, but it must be started early in life because once you develop an individual posture, it is hard to change. At the earliest stage possible, try to teach your child to sleep on his or her back. This is the healthiest posture for the body in general, as well as the teeth. Certainly, if your child is undergoing orthodontic treatment, proper sleeping habits can only shorten the treatment time and make it more successful.
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Inherited Gum Disease
If one of your children's gums bleed occasionally, this may be an indication of gum disease. If this happens in spite of good oral hygiene, it may suggest that he or she had inherited a tendency to gum disease.
Juvenile periodontitis or gum disease can advance rapidly if left untreated. It can also result in loss of permanent teeth in children and teenagers who are otherwise healthy. If the tendency is inherited, it may be traced to an x-linked gene present in the mother's chromosomes. Both boys and girls can inherit this trait, though it is more common among girls.
In one case, the history was traced to a great-grandmother on the mother's side of the family and several other female family members. In the present generation there were four girls and one boy in the family. Three of the daughters showed evidence of gum disease before they reached their teens. Whether there is a history of gum disease in your family or not, prompt treatment of this condition is needed to prevent soft tissue involvement and loosening of permanent teeth.
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Missing Tooth Syndrome
By the time Mother Nature's dental job is complete, most humans end up with a full set of 32 permanent teeth. But you can't always trust Mother Nature. Occasionally, one or several teeth fail to develop. Such a condition is known as partial anodontia. This may happen with either primary or permanent teeth.
Even though all primary teeth may form, something may happen to prevent the development of the formative bud for one or more of the permanent teeth. The tooth most frequently missing is the third molar (wisdom tooth). Usually its absence does no harm.
It has been speculated that evolution is reducing the number of human teeth. Our soft modern diet requires less chewing than our predecessors. In many instances, the wisdom teeth are already dispensable and should be removed when they develop in a troublemaking way. Perhaps wisdom teeth are the first victims of a genetic trend toward fewer teeth but as yet there is no proof-just theory to support this line of reasoning.
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Nitrous-Oxide Analgesia
Maybe you're skittish about going to the dentist. You probably put things off until your really have a problem that can't wait any longer. By then, there may be a lot of discomfort involved.
In this kind of situation, Dr. Patenaude may suggest the use of nitrous-oxide analgesia. Nitrous-oxide is a very mild, general anesthetic gas that is inhaled through a nose piece. Instead of feeling anxious or fearful, the patient feels relaxed. It's almost like being in a peaceful sleep. The patient has a detached awareness of what is happening but no discomforting sensation. He's given just enough of the analgesia to cover the period of time the dentist needs to complete his work. When he's finished, the patient wakes up as if from a short sleep.
Over-anxious children as well as adults can benefit from nitrous-oxide analgesia because it eliminates the fear of pain, the chief culprit in neglect of dental care. Once you get regular dental care, however, neglect will be eliminated and better dental health will be achieved.
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Preventing Cavities
If you have a child whose teeth need protection against cavities, you may want to ask Dr. Patenaude if he would recommend the pit and fissure sealant technique. This is a paint on coating applied to the biting surfaces of the teeth to prevent decay. When used effectively it may also diminish the need to restore decayed teeth with fillings. The minor decay that may develop when the sealant wears off may not require the filling normally used in tooth restoration,
The technique is not recommended for teeth with decay that extends into the dentin, the area beyond the tooths enamel which contains the pulp canal. Nor is it recommended for patients who have no history of cavities or likelihood of developing them.
Once applied, the sealant should be checked annually for wear to see if a reapplication is needed. It should also be checked for any signs of cavities in unprotected areas.
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Orthodontic Intervention
Actually, the bands and wires used in orthodontics haven't changed all that much over the years, but orthodontic treatment methods have. We now recognize and tend to treat malocclusion problems much earlier than in the past. We find that sometimes lengthy orthodontic treatment in the teen years can be eliminated if a malocclusion problem can be diagnosed and treated at an early age.
A common example of early orthodontic intervention is the practice of inserting a space maintainer when a child loses a primary tooth (usually a molar) due to some traumatic injury or decay. This keeps the space open until a permanent tooth erupts, and prevents neighbouring teeth from drifting. Sometimes orthodontic tongue and lip exercises (myofunctional therapy) are necessary to help overcome the problems associated with weak lip muscles (short upper lip) or bad habits such as tongue-thrusting.
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Overbite
So, your child has an overbite ( sometimes known as 'buck teeth'). This malformation in the normal bite structure can alter the development of many things. For example, your child will have to learn to pronounce sounds, especially those of 's', 'f', and 'th', in a different way. The manner of swallowing and the placement of the tongue will have to be altered because the upper and lower teeth do not meet properly. Normal chewing will also have to be changed-not only because the front teeth don't mesh, but because the back (chewing) teeth do not mesh the way they should. The longer a person has an overbite, the more damage that can result. An overbite can be treated when it is first noted. If the condition is severe enough, very early treatment (age 3 or 4) might be instituted. However, the normal age to begin treatment of an overbite is in the range of 7 to 10. Any delay in treatment might mean that it may be too late to get the best results.
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Pregnancy Gingivitis
One factor which the expectant mother must consider if she wants to keep her teeth healthy during pregnancy is the phenomenon of PREGNANCY GINGIVITIS, which increases the expectant mother's susceptibility to tooth decay.
Because the baby has to be nourished in the womb, the mother's body undergoes certain hormonal changes that have the function of increasing the blood supply to the mucous lining of the womb. Sometimes, however, the hormonal activity becomes excessive and increases the blood supply to the mucous membrane of the mouth. The extra, unwanted blood causes inflamed and bleeding gums, creating a comfortable habitat for certain decay bacteria.
Teeth are lost, it turns out, not because of surrendering calcium to the fetus, but for the usual reason decay from bacteria and acids. That's why expectant mothers should take extra care with oral hygiene, and not neglect periodic dental examinations.
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A Child's Injured Teeth
If a youngster has an accident and one or more primary teeth are injured and become discolored, the teeth may be able to be saved and returned to their natural color. Through a technique called labial pulpectomy, a hole is made in the front of the tooth and the dead tissue causing the discoloration is removed. The tooth is then filled with a white paste similar to that used in the root canal therapy.
The hole in the tooth is covered with calcium hydroxide, which hardens and forms a seal over the opening. Then the entire front surface of the tooth is covered with a bonding agent and matched in color to the other teeth.
It is important to the child's proper tooth development that the primary teeth stay in place until his/her permanent teeth are ready to erupt and replace them. Usually all to a child's twenty primary teeth have emerged by three years of age. These teeth come out between the ages of six and thirteen and are replaced by permanent teeth.
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Ankylosed Teeth
Sometimes a child's primary molars are firmly attached to the bone when it's time for them to exfoliate (fall out); a condition called Ankylosed TEETH. This situation prevents eruption of the permanent molars and creates problems with occlusion. (The way your teeth meet). Usually just the lower primary second molars are involved, but all the primary molars may be ankylosed, The exact cause of anylosis in unknown, but the occurrence is familial.
It is very important that an early diagnosis is made of this condition. Dr. Patenaude will probably want to see your child for examination, cleaning, and x-rays around the age of three. This is usually sufficient to alert him/her to irregularities in your child's exfoliation timetable that could indicate ankylosed teeth.
Usually dentists extract anylosed primary molars because they will not normally fall out by themselves. (Exfoliate).
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Are Child's Teeth On Schedule?
Children's teeth are somewhat like trains or airplanes. If they don't arrive on schedule, you (or rather your child) may be in for a problem. How do you know if the permanent teeth are replacing the primaries on schedule? Here's the "ballpark" timetable for you to use as a reference.
Between the age of 7 to 10, he should have four permanent incisors in front as well as a primary canine, first and second molar, and a permanent 6 year molar on each side. This gives him a total of 12 teeth in each dental arch.
By the time he's 12, he should have lost the primary (baby) molars. The permanent premolars should have worked their way through his gums to replace them. So should the permanent canine teeth. The last step is for all four 12 year molars to emerge behind the 6 year molars. This should happen between the ages of 11 and 13.
There is no exact date when all permanent teeth should be in. But there is a normal schedule of events. If your child is not on schedule there may be a problem. You'll need Dr. Patenaude's help to correct it.
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Children and Contact Sports
If your children play any contact sport, be sure to have a mouth protector made for them. A custom or semi-custom fitted one is best. Insist that it be worn at all times during play. A chipped front tooth is a lifetime damage, or a tooth can be killed or knocked out.
By the way, if a 'permanent' tooth is completely knocked out of the jaw accidentally, the tooth can be cleaned, sterilized, re-implanted, and secured into place. It then stands a fair chance of recovery or retention. Tell your young sportsman that in the event of such an accident he should retrieve the tooth, wrap it if possible in a wet kerchief, or hold it in the saliva in his mouth if need be. You should rush him to Dr. Patenaude or the nearest hospital dental clinic.
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Choosing a toothbrush
It would seem that there is little consistency in the style and form of recommended toothbrushes. Many dentists recommend a rectangular-shaped soft nylon brush with curves and tufts. Others prefer a harder brush that softens after use; the advantage of a soft brush is that it can be used against the gums and teeth with less risk of abrasion. That is why a soft nylon brush is better for children. However, a medium-hard brush cleans the hard surfaces of teeth better. If your teeth do not feel smooth when you run your tongue over them after brushing, switch to a harder toothbrush. Although tuft design and head angle may not be very important, a small head, a good handle grip, and a rubber gum simulator on the handle are.
The toothbrush should be replaced before it has lost its; shape and the bristles are bent. If you use a natural bristle more than once a day, it is a good idea to have two brushes. By alternating brushes the natural bristles have time to dry out and become firm again.
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Don't Always Blame Teething
Fussy babies are notoriously passed off a 'just teething'. This is only natural since babies are teething on and off from time they are six months to three years old and it is probably the most frequent cause of their complaints. Indeed, studies conducted on teething babies do show that they can be restless and fussy. Other signals of teething are increased drooling; putting hands, fingers, and other objects into the mouth; and probably loss of appetite, The gums may also look irritated, red, and puffy.
However, don't blame teething for everything. In the past teething was blamed for high fever, colds, croup, diarrhea, and even convulsions in babies; but this just isn't the case. Teething does not cause illness, so check with your pediatrician if your child has symptoms like these at the same time he or she is teething. Teething is natural process, which can cause irritation and discomfort, but not disease.
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Don't Ignore Cavities
Look Ma, only two small cavities?Sounds good? Don't kid yourself. If your could look through each cavity-marked tooth, however, you'd probably see that a lot more damage has been done, than meets the eye. When a cavity first appears, the enamel of the tooth has already been damaged, but below the enamel, the bacteria that caused the cavity in the first place may have multiplied and begun attacking the dentin. Or core of the tooth.
If you continue to ignore the cavity, the disease process continues until the bacteria start attacking the pulp or nerve of the tooth. By this time you will begin to realize the extent of the damage because you will begin to feel the pain of toothache. Unfortunately, by then it may not be possible to save the tooth.
Don't ignore any cavity, no matter how small and inconsequential it may appear, not if you want to save your teeth. Early treatment by Dr. Patenaude and regular checkups is the only ways to protect your dental health.
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Early Wisdom Extraction
Most of your teeth have been designed by nature to last as long as you do. Wisdom teeth are the exception, however, when they become impacted or are causing other dental problems. If your dentist recommends one of your wisdom teeth be removed, do not put it off.
Extraction is much easier and less uncomfortable when the roots are not fully formed. You may also be avoiding a lot of other dental problems, such as destruction of adjoining teeth, their roots, and even the jawbone. Also, a partially erupted wisdom tooth can be highly vulnerable to decay as well as gum disease. Neglect may also lead to the formation of cysts or fluid-filled sacs or tumors if the tooth is left untreated.
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Getting Children to Brush
It is very important to start children off with good dental habits. It is better that they pick up these habits naturally and early than having it forced upon them later on.
Children are great imitators. If they see you brush and floss, they will want to do the same for themselves. By all means encourage it. Regardless of how young they are. Just as children may want to drive a car or have many years before they are ready, they will want to "play" at brushing and flossing.
Ask Dr. Patenaude about a brush suitable for your children. It will be the same design as yours, only smaller. Floss should also be available to them, even if they can't manage it too well. They will enjoy the use of the water pik, which flushes their mouths very effectively. They may also brush longer and more often if they have access to an electric toothbrush.
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Neglected Baby Teeth
You may think that your child's baby teeth are not important because they are going to fall out anyway, but nothing could be further from the truth. Much of the child's future dental health will depend on the care given to his or her baby teeth.
Most children have all of their primary teeth by age three, Between the ages of six and twelve; these teeth are gradually lost as permanent replacements erupt through the gums. However, if they are lost as permanent replacements erupt through the gums. However, if they are lost too soon because of decay, injury or some other reason, the child's neighboring teeth can drift into the vacant space. This can make it difficult or impossible for the permanent teeth to come in properly.
The result is often crooked or crowded teeth which cause other dental problems.
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Nutrition and Tooth Development
Like all the other parts of your body, your teeth depend on good nutrition to develop properly. This is particularly important during the embryonic period, when teeth and bones are being formed initially.
The expectant mother should eat food rich in protein, minerals, and vitamins. Meat, fish, eggs, milk and milk products, fresh fruits and certain vegetables are all high minerals, vitamins, and proteins, the building blocks of life.
Teeth are made of minerals, particularly calcium: but even with enough calcium, teeth will not calcify properly without vitamins D, C, and A. Deficiencies of these vitamins can cause defective calcification of teeth and bones. A serious enough deficiency may cause rickets or scurvy in children and even adults so think how it must effect the teeth and bones of the developing embryo.
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Orthodontic Intervention
Actually, the bands and wires used in orthodontics haven't changed all that much over the years, but orthodontic treatment methods have. We now recognize and tend to treat malocclusion problems much earlier than in the past. We find that sometimes-lengthy orthodontic treatment in the teen years can be eliminated if a malocclusion problem can be diagnosed and treated at an early age.
A common example of early orthodontic intervention is the practice of inserting a space a maintainer when a child loses a primary tooth) usually a molar) due to some traumatic injury or decay. This keeps the space open until a permanent tooth erupts. And prevents neighboring teeth from drift. Sometimes orthodontic tongue and lip exercises (myofunctional therapy) are necessary to help overcome the problems associated with weak lip muscles (short upper lip) or bad habits such as tongue thrusting.
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Preventive Orthodontics
There are some orthodontic problems that can, and should, be diagnosed and treated early. The result can be great savings in time, money, and discomfort.
If the child develops a narrower upper arch, for instance, the palate can easily, quickly, and painlessly be separated and expanded, placing the upper teeth in proper relation to the lower. Likewise, if the permanent teeth look very crowded as they come in, take your child to visit your dentist and ask for a referral to a good orthodontist. Sometimes with out bands or braces but with lots of orthodontic Know-how, serial extraction, or the judicious removal of certain teeth at the right time- - a big orthodontic problem in the future can be prevented,
It requires that the parent be alert to problems. The parent should also think of Dr. Patenaude as a resource, someone to periodically check the progress of their childs dental health.
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Saving an Aching Tooth
If your child should develop a toothache, your dentist will probably do whatever he can to save it if the decay is not too widespread. This will be true whether its a baby tooth or one of the childs permanent teeth. Its important to the childs future dental health to try to keep all of his baby teeth in place until the permanent teeth erupt to replace them. If a tooth were extracted, the surrounding teeth might crowd together, filling the space, and blocking the eruption of the permanent tooth.
Dr. Patemaude will first anesthetize the decayed tooth so the child will not feel pain. He will then clean out the decayed area. Including the affected portion of the pulp where it enters the tooths roots. The tooth will be medicated then filled to protect it from further decay. By remaining in place the tooth will help keep your entire childs other teeth in alignment. At the same time it will be reserving a place for the permanent tooth, so it will have a better chance to arrive in its proper position, unblocked by shifting or crowded teeth.
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The Silent Disease
Gum disease, gingivitis or the more serious periodontal disease, in which tooth-supporting bone is attacked, knows no age barriers. Children and adults alike can be threatened.
Gingivitis and periodontal disease usually develop slowly and may not cause any pain or discomfort until an abscess develops. Unfortunately, it is much too easy for gingivitis to progress to periodontal disease without your being aware of it. It's not like a toothache that quickly lets you know when something is wrong. When the gums begin to recede and teeth begin to loosen, however, major work will be needed to save them.
Don't wait for that to happen you. Get regular dental checkups. At the first sign of gum problems, have the condition treated by your dentist so your teeth will last as long as you do.
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Those six-year molars
If you have a youngster who's past his sixth birthday, it won't surprise you when he begins to lose his front teeth. But a lot more is happening in his mouth than you realize. For one thing, his six-year molars are beginning to erupt. These are the big back teeth so important for chewing and grinding. Some people may think they are "primary" molars to be replaced later like the child's other "baby" teeth. But they are not. They're permanent teeth, and with proper care, should last a lifetime,
The condition and shape they're in when they erupt are especially important and should be checked carefully. Among other things, these six-year molars help determine the shape of the lower part of his face. They can also have a direct effect on the position and health of his other teeth.
If they come in crooked, for example, this can throw his other teeth out of alignment. This not only affects his chewing efficiency but the shape of his mouth and tendency toward tooth decay.
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Wisdom Teeth-Remove or Not Remove?
Wisdom teeth is the name commonly given to the third permanent molars. They lie in the very back of the mouth and, as a result, are often crowded and impact (wedged against at an angle) the tooth in front of them. If they are not impacted, their removal is no more complicated than any other tooth. Sometimes, however, it is important to extract these teeth promptly to avoid complications.
Possible complications of waiting include: pain, swelling, and loss of much of your chewing ability. These things often occur as the tooth attempts to erupt through the gum and creates a flap under which food can become trapped. This decaying food debris becomes an ideal place for bacteria to develop-which is turn leads to infection and its problems which include: prolonged recovery time, increased cost of treatment, and danger to the patients general health. Most surgical problems from wisdom teeth occur in patients who have waited too long. If extractions are needed, have them done promptly.
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Tooth Timetable
When baby is born, he has a mouthful of 52 teeth buried in his gums. Although they are not fully formed, the 20 baby teeth are will underway, including enamel coating. There is barely enough room for the upcoming 20 baby teeth, and not nearly enough room for the adult set of 32 teeth. The first two teeth to pop out are normally the lower incisors (front teeth) at six months. Within a month, the lateral incisors usually appear on the bottom, alongside the central incisors. The upper front teeth usually come into the mouth at about seven and a half months, followed by the upper lateral incisors ( like bookends) at nine months. The first molar teeth ordinarily erupt before the canines (or eye teeth), leaving a space between the front teeth and the molars. The lower first molars come in at about the age of one year and the upper first molars about two months later. The canines come into the space reserved for them at eighteen months and the second molars make their appearance at about the 24th month. Ill hedge a little and say that between age 2 and 3, baby should have a full set of 20 primary teeth.
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Wearing Braces
There are certain things an orthodontic patient must do if excellent results are to be achieved& Here are some do's and don't's
Keep all appointments and follow all instructions. Wear appliances, elastics, retainers, etc., for the periods prescribed. Keep a written record of the hours a headgear or appliance is worn.
Take good care of your appliance. Have a specific place to store removable appliances, elastics, etc., where they won't be lost, damaged or available for the dog to chew. Let your orthodontist do any necessary adjustments. When taking part in active sports, take out removable appliances, and protect fixed ones with a mouth guard.
Brush your teeth after every meal and snack. Keep removable appliances clean. Irrigators and flossing are helpful but don't replace the brush. Avoid sweets and see your regular dentist for checkups.
Avoid hard or sticky foods. This may include nuts, caramels, and crunchy snacks. Never chew ice or gum, -even if it's sugarless.
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When a Child's Tooth is fractured
You probably expect your child to have minor accidents from time to time. Cuts and bruises are usually mended and the child soon forgets them. If he or she should suffer a fractured tooth as the result of an accident, however, there may be need for immediate treatment to save the tooth.
When just a small piece of a tooth has been chipped off and it is not loose or causing pain, you may be able to wait the normal time for an appointment. If a large piece of the tooth has been broken, however, or if you can see that the pink tissue at the center of the tooth has been exposed, emergency treatment may be needed.
In the initial treatment, Dr. Patenaude will remove the damaged portion of the nerve and then put a protective coating on the tooth. If it's a primary tooth, he will do whatever he can to save it so that the permanent tooth will erupt in its proper position. If it's a permanent tooth, he will restore the tooth, and protect if from further damage
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Will Baby Have Healthy Teeth?
What can an expectant mother do to make sure her baby will grow up to have healthy Teeth? There are two things that will make all the difference in the world.
One is the child's genetic makeup, the genes he or she inherits from both parents. They will help determine the size, shape, texture, and other qualities of a child's teeth. There's nothing a parent can do to control this. It just happens.
But there is something an expectant mother can do to give baby a good dental start. She can do whatever possible to protect her health.
She should eat a well-balanced diet, as recommended by her physician. And she should avoid infection, including tooth decay and gum disease. Any inaction can have unhealthy consequences for mother and child. A dental checkup and treatment will help eliminate any source of infection caused by decayed teeth or gum disease.
You should start planning for that first visit to Dr. Patenaude at about age three.
That's when all 20 of the primary teeth should have erupted and Dr. Patenaude can evaluate progress or problems.
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