The rate of tooth decay among children remains high
According to the oral health survey conducted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare on children under 6 years old in 2018, the tooth decay rate of preschool children was 46.93%, and the tooth decay rate of 5-year-old children was as high as 65.43%. The child tooth decay rate continues to be high, showing that although the economic and educational levels of the people are getting higher and higher, and everyone is taking better care of young children, the concept of dental care for young children still remains in the old misconception that “it doesn’t matter if the baby teeth are decayed, they will grow into adult teeth anyway.”
Treatment of tooth decay
When tooth decay is so severe that it invades the dental nerve, bacteria will cause inflammation of the dental nerve, resulting in toothache, cellulitis and other symptoms in children. At this time, simple filling cannot solve the problem of tooth decay, and root canal treatment is necessary, which is the treatment that everyone often hears as “nerve extraction”. Root canal treatment mainly removes the inflamed nerves, flushes the nerve canal clean and then fills the filling material. The purpose is to eliminate the inflammation and pain of the dental pulp nerve and prevent the inflammation caused by bacteria from spreading and affecting the development of the permanent tooth germ below.
After the root canal treatment, the deciduous teeth are too damaged due to tooth decay. Simply filling them can easily cause tooth fracture. After the fracture, they must be extracted, which not only affects the child’s bite and aesthetics, but also makes the previous hard work of root canal treatment go to waste. Therefore, after the root canal treatment, the deciduous teeth must be protected with braces to restore sufficient strength to bear the force of chewing.
In addition to the prevention of tooth decay, what else is the focus of the examination?
1 Fissure filling
Most children’s permanent teeth begin to erupt at about 6-7 years old, and the first molar to erupt is the first molar. There are many difficult-to-clean grooves on the occlusal surface of the molars, which are prone to accumulate food residues and bacteria, making the teeth potentially at risk of tooth decay. Fissure filling refers to filling these gaps with a groove sealant before the molars are fully erupted and the tooth surface grooves have not been eroded. This can prevent the invasion of food residues and bacteria and prevent tooth decay. It is like putting on a bulletproof protective vest for the molars!
2 Growth and development of teeth
Children’s deciduous teeth will slowly be replaced by permanent teeth between the ages of 6 and 12. The focus of regular follow-up is whether the permanent teeth grow smoothly. At this time, dental X-ray examination can show whether the permanent teeth are missing, malpositioned, or impacted supernumerary teeth. Early detection and early treatment can achieve a better prognosis. Anterior tooth malocclusion must be treated early. Long-term malocclusion will cause tooth disorder, and improper bite force will also cause periodontal damage to permanent teeth and gum atrophy.
3 Bad oral habits
Nasal allergies and nasal congestion will gradually make children develop a habit of mouth breathing due to blocked airways. In addition to the unsightly appearance of the mouth, mouth breathing will also affect learning and sleeping in the long run, as well as the lack of coordination of the muscles around the mouth, which will in turn affect the alignment of teeth and the development of the jawbone. To correct mouth breathing, you must first rule out the problem of airway patency. You must first see an otolaryngologist to find out the cause of your child’s mouth breathing. Common causes include enlarged tonsils, nasal polyps, and deviated nasal septum. These problems should be solved by an otolaryngologist. In the dental department, functional correction devices combined with breathing training can help most children gradually correct their mouth breathing problems.
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