Dental Specialties: Pediatric Dentistry

Paediatric dentistry is the speciality that is limited to the care of children from infancy to adolescents. What paediatric dentists focus most on is prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment.

A child's primary teeth are an essential part of the body in terms of growth and development. The primary teeth are present in the mouth from 6 months old until around 12 years old. An intact dentition during this time of active growth is essential for proper nutritional intake. Digestion and assimilation of food requires the breakdown that only chewing can provide.

The primary teeth and the chewing process help stimulate the growth of the upper and lower jaw. They are also essential in the development of sound production and speech.

Primary teeth also retain space in the dental arch for their permanent teeth. When the primary teeth are prematurely lost, the permanent teeth are more often impacted or erupted in lingual and buccal version.

<< this tooth is lingual version (buccal verison is the same thing but with the teeth moving more towards the cheek side of the mouth.

<< this is an impacted tooth

The primary teeth serve an esthetics function in children. There may be concerns with a positive self image when teeth are not present that should be, and when teeth are not lost on the same schedule as other children. Differences in what is considered "normal" appearance can be a source of teasing.

If a child has a lot of cavities, instead of just ripping the teeth out, the teeth should be restored such that all of the functions stated above can be adequately met. 

A pulpotomy is very common in young children. A pulpotomy is the removal of the coronal portion of the pulp and treated of the remaining radicular pup, in an attempt to maintain the tooth and its supporting structures in a state of health. Two techniques are used for pulpotomy treatment.

•  1. Pulpotomy with Formocresol
• Fromocresolpilpotomy is indicated for carious and accidental pulpal exposures when the pulp is still vital (living).  The drug its self, a combination of formaldehyde and tricresol in glycerin, has a protein binding effect in addition to being a strong bactericide.

• 2. Pulpotomy with Calcium Hydroxide
• This type of pulpotomy is used on newly erupted teeth that have open apices and fractures that exposed to pulp (not fully formed yet). In this type of treatment the pulp in the apical portion of the root canal is not disturbed and root development can continue.
• When the apical portion of the root development is complete (apexogenesis) the remaining pulp tissue is removed and complete endodontic procedure is preformed (root canal treatment)

Primary teeth can also have two other treatments made to it, direct pulp capping and indirect pulp capping.
Direct pulp capping is used when the pulp has been slightly exposed while removing decay. The fine pulp horns are close to the surface, yet not visible radio graphically. The tooth remains vital , in most cases, however, the pulp may become infected and require additional treatment such as a root canal.
Usually bleeding occurs once the exposure is made, and the pulpal area must be immediately cleaned with hydrogen peroxide. A layer of calcium hydroxide is placed onto the exposed pulpal tissue followed by a protective base of appropriate cement.

Indirect pulp capping is indicated when the pulp has not yet been exposed but there is a chance that the pulp will be exposed when removing the cavity in the pulpal floor area. An instrument will be used to remove caries from the coronal portion of the tooth to a depth that will avoid penetrating the pulp. A thick later of calcium hydroxide is placed over the caries and a temp restoration is placed. The calcium hydroxide will stimulate the production of reparative dentin. After 2-6 months the temp restoration will be removed, remaining caries will be removed and a final restoration is placed.


There are many oral habits that created unbalanced pressures that may effect the development and growth of the upper and lower jaw. The intensity, duration and frequency of the oral habit determine whether there will be any harmful effects. These effects can include mispositioned teeth and/or malocclusion.
Types of these oral habits include:

• Thumb sucking
• Tongue thrusting
• Nail biting
• Mouth breathing
• Bruxism (grinding and clenching)

 < this is caused from grinding

 < this is caused from tongue thrusting (while your swallow your pressing on your front teeth with you tongue)

 < just showing the pressure that is on ur front teeth while a person sucks their thumb

<< excessive thumb sucking

Mouth breathing causes your teeth and gums to become dry and irritated. Nail biting can cause chips and fractures in ur tooth.

Most of these oral habits like thumb sucking and tongue thrust stop after a couple years of age, but if a child carries on these habits once their older it can have a detrimental effect.