IN Mt. Lebanon Summer 2014 | Page 41

INDUSTRY INSIGHT A Lifetime Dental Care SpoNSoReD CoNTeNT A Lifetime of Dentistry s we age, our dental needs change and the type of dental treatment also changes. A good understanding of this cycle is important to prevent problems as we get older. Early childhood. Primary teeth begin to erupt when a child is about 6 months old and usually finish at about 2 years of age. For young children just getting their first teeth, the easiest way to clean their teeth is to use a 2”x2” piece of gauze to wipe each tooth. If you want to use a toothbrush to clean the teeth, use only water with it. If you want to use toothpaste, only use a “pea-size” amount of toothpaste until the child is old enough to understand not to swallow toothpaste. At age 3 or 4, the dentist can clean a child’s teeth and apply fluoride to strengthen the enamel and reduce the chances of the child getting tooth decay. Ages 6 to 12. At this period in a child’s life, there is a mixture of primary (baby) and permanent teeth. There is a lot going on – permanent teeth are erupting, and the remaining primary teeth are acting as space maintainers so there will be room for additional permanent teeth. Dental exams are particularly important at this time along with regular cleaning and fluoride treatments. Sealants are placed on the erupting first molars to reduce chances of decay. For children with certain types of irregular growth patterns, orthodontic treatment may be started. Tee