Pediatric dentist

A dentist dedicated to the dental and oral health of children is a pediatric dentist. In other words, pediatric dentists are pediatricians of dentistry. A pediatric dentist attends to the dental problems of infants' right through the teenage years. A pediatric dentist requires additional qualification after a graduation in general dentistry to meet the special needs of children. Visiting a pediatric dentist from early childhood to the growing years can help avoid dental treatments at later age and stage.

• A pediatric dentist handles normal children as well as hospitalized, handicapped and chronically ill children. The pediatric dentist can approach the child's own special needs in a sensitive, caring and professional manner. A pediatric dentist employs medication and controls pain to alleviate the child's apprehension about treatment.
  
• Prevention of dental diseases and disorders is a pediatric dentist's primary concern. A pediatric dentist advises parents that regular dental care should begin by one year of age. A pediatric dentist explains and discusses diseases of the gum, and how to avoid or minimize the damage if it has already started in the child.
  
• Preventive home care for brushing, flossing, diet control programs, importance of the use of fluorides are taught by a pediatric dentist.
  
• The issue of 'nursing decay', often called 'bottle mouth syndrome' is bound to occur in infants. As the name indicates, this is a pattern of decay associated with prolonged nursing. A pediatric dentist recommends that a child be weaned by approximately twelve months of age to prevent such nursing caries.
  
• It is normal for a pediatric dentist to prevent tooth decay by using sealants. A sealant is a clear or shaded plastic material that a pediatric dentist uses to apply to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. In a child, the back teeth have depressions and grooves on their chewing surfaces and so it is difficult and sometimes impossible to clean. The sealant forms a coating or barrier to protect the tooth from bacteria and bits of food. A pediatric dentist helps dramatically reduce the risk of decay for children and teens by protecting such depressions and grooves with a coating of sealant.
  
• Bite problems (malocclusion) are often a concern of parents of young children. Sometimes this problem is hereditary when a child has an extra or missing teeth from birth.
  
• A pediatric dentist is especially qualified and trained to handle several dental emergencies that can occur in childhood. It may be a broken tooth, broken braces and wires, a cut or bitten tongue or a knocked-out tooth or a common toothache.
  

Abscessed Tooth

A dental condition wherein the nerve or the dental pulp (inner part of tooth) gets infected is termed as abscessed tooth. The bacterial infection in the inner part of the tooth leads to collection of pus. Following a good oral hygiene regimen many help preventing dental abscess.

Tooth abscess types

Periodontal: occurs in the supporting bone and tissue structure of the teeth.

Periapical: found in the dental pulp.

Gingival: occurs in gum tissue, does not affect tooth or periodontal ligament.

Abscessed tooth causes

• A dental cavity when left untreated leads to spread of infection deep within the tooth and this may cause abscessed tooth.
  
  
• A broken tooth or cracked tooth can also cause abscessed tooth as the dental pulp is exposed to the environment.
  
  
• An infection between the gum and root of the tooth can also cause tooth abscess.
  
  
• Gum disease can also cause abscessed tooth.
  
  
• Gingivitis can also cause abscessed tooth.
  
  
• Trauma to tooth or mouth.
  
  
• Weak immune system.
  

Abscessed tooth symptoms

Typical symptoms of an abscessed tooth include swelling, toothache, bad breath, inflammation of the gum tissue, sensitivity in tooth and swollen neck glands. A dentist will physically examine it and might order a tooth xray.

Abscessed tooth treatment

Abscess is drained through the procedure of root canal. A crown is placed on the tooth to protect it. Affected tooth may be extracted. Incision into the swollen gum may treat the condition. Antibiotics prescribed prevent infection and pain relievers help relieve pain.

Dental Abscess prevention

Brush teeth twice a day. Eat a balanced diet low in sugar. Use dental floss to clean in between teeth. Visit dentist for regular dental check. Use fluoridated drinking water.