Oral health is a mirror to general health and wellbeing. It is very important that primary teeth are kept in place until they are lost naturally. These teeth serve a number of critical functions like,
Common problems or pathologies treated by Head & Neck Surgeon:
- Permitting your child to chew properly,
- Involved in speech development,
- Helps in the eruption of permanent teeth by saving space for them,
- A healthy smile can help children feel good about the way they look to others.
In 1986, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) adopted a position on infant oral health recommending that the first visit of the child to the dental clinic should occur within 6 months of the eruption of the first primary tooth.
The upper incisors are among the first to erupt; therefore, they will be exposed to the cariogenic habit for longer. The other teeth will experience a cariogenic attack as they erupt. During breast- or bottle-feeding, the infant places the natural or artificial nipple against the palate. The lower incisors remain sound because the tongue’s position protects them from contact with maternal milk or formula, and saliva from the salivary glands washes them.
At first, the maxillary incisors present a white demineralization band along the gingival margin, usually missed by parents. The demineralization bands gradually progress to cavities that encircle the teeth’ necks in a brown-black collar. By contrast, the lower incisors are unaffected – either completely healthy or mildly carious. Severe cases may show the crowns of the upper incisors destroyed, leaving root stumps.
