Children's dental care: what you need to know

Dental care for children is an important step. As soon as the first teeth appear, usually around the age of 6 months, the care and treatment of children's dental care must be treated with great care.

Regular dental appointments are essential for your child. Good oral hygiene is the simplest and least expensive way to limit cavities and dental infections in the future.

What is children's dental care? How is it different from adult dental care? We explain everything you need to know before making an appointment.

Dental care for children: quality, gentle and delicate care

Many people do not know this, but there are dentists who specialise in the dental care of babies and children. These dentists are known as "paediatric" dentists, "paedodentists" or "paedodontists".

Specialists trained in children's dental care

As their name suggests, pediatric dentists are responsible for looking after your children's teeth. They measure the evolution and growth of teeth from age 1 to 14. In fact, an initial appointment should be made at one year of age, to ensure optimal growth.

The paediatric care staff ensure the good oral health of children of all ages. Dentists who are qualified in dental care, but who are also trained to study child psychology.

To achieve quality dental care, a relationship of trust must be established with the child. This is essential if the child is to feel at ease. The child needs to feel listened to, safe and relaxed during treatment. Pediatric dentists therefore ensure effective, reassuring communication. They are also trained to use gentle, delicate methods to ensure child-friendly care.

Treatment of children with anxiety

There are now many people suffering from dental phobia, especially children. Fear of the dentist is a factor to be taken into account. As a result, many dentists today specialise in treating this group of patients.

Sedation by inhalation of nitrous oxide is not only used for anxious patients. This technique is generally appreciated because of its pleasant effect on patients.

Sedation and Meopa are invaluable in children's dentistry to treat anxious but cooperative children. Children must be able to understand the need for dental treatment.

However, this is not suitable for children who completely refuse to cooperate. These solutions are also not suitable for children with serious pathologies (disabilities) or children with respiratory problems.

In these cases, general anaesthesia is strongly recommended.

Treatment of dental caries and stains in children

Poor oral hygiene has important consequences for your child's overall health and well-being. Measures to promote good dental health begin at birth.

Tooth decay is rarely painful in children. It is mainly due to inadequate brushing techniques or excessive sugar intake.

Mainly caused by bacteria, it develops more easily on teeth that are often in contact with sugary liquids and are not cleaned regularly. If your child has cavities, it's vital to consult a specialist to treat them and identify the cause.

Another factor in poor dental hygiene is the presence of stains, increasingly common among our children. They can be white, yellow or brown. There are many possible explanations: premature birth or low birth weight, recurrent infection at an early age (otitis and bronchitis), pollution or vitamin deficiency (especially calcium and vitamin D).

Orthodontic treatment for children

Orthodontic care is also important in the management of dental care for children. Orthodontics can modify the growth and development of the child's jaw.

You can consult an orthodontist if your child's jaw growth is too slow or too fast, if teeth are badly placed, or if he can't close his mouth properly.

This can be partly explained by protruding teeth. After a thorough analysis, a dental specialist will assess the need for orthodontic treatment.

Orthodontic treatment is rare before the age of 4, unless your child has a severe jaw misalignment. Most often, treatment is applied from the age of 6 onwards as a result of prolonged thumb sucking (lozenge syndrome) or teat sucking. This causes a weakness in the development of the upper jaw, which results in a narrow jaw.

For all these reasons, it's essential to treat dental malformations early. Early intervention avoids the need for more extensive treatment in adolescence or adulthood.

Children's dental care: specific coverage

First dental appointment

The aim of the first visit is to build a relationship of trust between the child and the dentist. To expose the child to dental instruments from an early age. The first visit to the dentist is generally recommended before the age of 2.

To make these visits a positive and pleasant memory for the child, to introduce the team: the dentist, the dental hygienist and the dental assistants.

At the first appointment, the dentist performs a complete check-up of your child, including an examination of teeth, growth, face and smile.

The dentist will also give you advice on brushing, oral hygiene and eating habits at home. No treatment is performed on the day.

At the end of the appointment, a treatment plan and preventive measures are put in place to ensure that these results last.

Establishing confidence in the child on arrival

The first meeting with the dentist serves first of all to create a bond with the child, but also with the parents. It is imperative to identify the nature and character of the child before the intervention.

Is the child anxious? Is he or she energetic, shy or outgoing? As each child is unique, the pedodontist specialist must find the best way to communicate with the child in order to build a trusting and caring relationship.

Confidence building begins before the appointment using appropriate vocabulary. The waiting room is designed to allow the child to have fun and relax. The specialist dentist will take the time to explain to the child what he or she is going to do, and then what they are doing. He or she will gradually build up the child's confidence by using simple words and will offer ways to distract the child.

Support throughout your life

Do not wait until your child has a toothache to see a dentist. Children's dental care should be started as early as possible to reduce and prevent tooth decay and cavities in infants and children.

Planning your child's dental check-up from an early age also helps to address potential problems that could affect the growth of your child's teeth. Regular dental check-ups starting early in life help eliminate and reduce tooth and gum disease.

Having a family dentist is an essential part of children's dental care. Family dentists usually welcome patients of all ages.

The family dentist accompanies your child throughout his/her life. This type of continuity allows your children to see the same dentist until they are adults. This makes it easier for your child to see the dentist. With time, these fears will disappear.

Chêne-Bourg Dental Centre: a reception area dedicated to children

At the Centre Dentaire Chêne-Bourg, children are welcomed for all general dentistry treatments and complete dental check-ups.

Personalised and specific care is provided over several appointments, in order to establish a child-centred support.

Our expertise covers all areas of pediatric dentistry (preventive care, restorations, prosthetic rehabilitation and dental surgery in children).

Our specialist dentists will take the time to explain to the child what they are doing. They will build up your child's confidence as they go along, using simple words and providing distraction.

During the consultation, you are advised to bring your child's "soft toy". Our paediatric specialists also ask about your child's fears or bad memories.

Our team will discuss with you how to help your child without interfering with the care. By sitting next to the child, touching his hand, talking to him... By giving the child breaks when he feels tired or needs to relax his jaw.

The Chêne-Bourg Dental Centre has a space entirely dedicated to children. A modern and bright waiting room adapted to the world of children.

Our dental practice attaches great importance to supporting and instilling confidence in children from the moment they arrive in order to guarantee the highest quality of care.

Are you looking for a dentist who specialises in children's dental care? Would you like to make an appointment for an initial consultation? Make an appointment online now.

The Centre Dentaire Chêne-Bourg will be pleased to welcome you.

Discover also the Centre Dentaire Lancy and the Centre Dentaire Champel