Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Children's Dentistry

Brushing and proper diet are most important. We recommend flossing for a child who continues to get decay in between their teeth even after other preventative measures have not worked. If there are spaces in between your child’s teeth, there is no need to floss.

As we age through adolescence and into adulthood, flossing becomes increasingly important and should start as soon as teeth touch, so as to prevent gingivitis, periodontal infections and breath problems.

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Yes, although crowding is common, we need to consider your child’s future oral health. A child with crowded teeth and jaw problems will not necessarily have more problems as they become an adult. However, adults with crowded teeth have more problems (tooth decay, gingivitis, periodontal disease, TMJ problems) than adults with good jaw and tooth alignment.

Because adult teeth are larger than baby teeth, jaw size and growth may not provide enough space. If you still see crowding by 8-9 years when all of the four upper and four lower adult teeth have erupted, the crowding will probably not improve. For most children and adults, crowding is the most common malocclusion. Sometimes a baby tooth is lost early because of lack of jaw space for new adult teeth. If you see crowding request an appointment for us at Wright Street Dental Clinic, Belmont, to examine your child, and discuss options with you.

Sealants are a very effective preventive therapy against tooth decay. On the chewing surface of the baby and adult molars are pits and fissures, which are normal imperfections of these teeth. Sealants fill in these areas to protect them from decay.

The sealant is a liquid that becomes hard like plastic after it is applied to the tooth. Sealant therapy, which was introduced over twenty years ago, is non-invasive (no drilling) and doesn’t require a local anaesthetic.

Baby teeth are important for jaw growth, appearance, speech and most importantly, to keep the spacing for their adult teeth. Baby teeth are replaced by adult teeth at certain times that are specific to your child. Baby teeth lost early because of tooth decay is the leading cause for crowding of the adult teeth.

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 If you have questions or concerns before your appointment, our team is available to discuss what to expect during your visit.

Parents are sometimes uninformed about the level of contact and potential for serious dental injuries involved with sports in which the child participates. Some, though not all schools, reinforce the health advantage of mouthguards for their contact sports. Cost may be another consideration, although mouthguards come in a variety of price ranges.

• Stock mouth guards - these are a bulky gutter of rigid plastic available from pharmacies and sports stores. They are very uncomfortable, interfere with speech and breathing and because they are not firmly secured offer a false sense of protection.

• Boil and Bite mouth guards - Pharmacies and sports stores also sell “boil and bite” mouth guards. They are made from a thermoplastic material which is softened in hot water and then placed in the mouth to mould to the teeth as the guard is bitten. Like stock guards, they are cheap but never fit well and their shape easily deforms. They can be uncomfortable, impair breathing and speech, offer limited protection and can be an airway hazard.
• Custom fitted mouth guards - These are made by a dental professional using an impression of the teeth from special shock absorbing plastic. A custom fitted mouth guard fits a person’s mouth perfectly. The accurate fit and control of the thickness maximizes the shock absorbing effect. They fit comfortably and won’t interfere with breathing.