Dental injuries in children

Read following article by By Dr Kiran Koora MDS (Paedodontist):

Dental health for children should not be ignored… it should be planned. Our goal is to have children become independently healthy, so they may grow up disease free, with no teeth injuries or fillings and with the necessary knowledge to keep their teeth and gums healthy for life. Paediatric dentistry is the branch of dentistry concerned with providing comprehensive dental care and treatment for the child patient, making it the most satisfying and rewarding type of dentistry. Getting your child into a good oral health routine at a young age will help ensure that they continue to have good oral health when they are older. Treating a young child is the most challenging speciality where most of the general dentists do not dare to venture. The main reasons for this could be the strain involved in the management of children with pain and anxiety issues and mastering the vast speciality that comprises paediatric dentistry.

Let’s talk first about dental trauma (injury). It is any injury to any part of the mouth such as the teeth, lips, gums, tongue and jawbones. Sports, bicycle/car accidents, physical fights, hard food, hot liquids are all potential causes of dental trauma. Injury to both the baby teeth and permanent teeth and the supporting structures is one of the most common dental problems seen in children. Trauma to the dentition should always be considered an emergency situation. It occurs frequently and results in functional (mastication, speech development) and aesthetic disturbances accompanied by concern from both patient and parent.

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