Paediatric Dentistry
Dr Themistokleous aims to provide dental care for patients of all ages – and that, of course, includes children. It is very important for children to have a healthy mouth so that they can eat their food without pain.
Unfortunately, many parents believe that because children have primary (baby) teeth, there is no need to have these little teeth treated – with painful consequences for the child.
However, the main reasons why these teeth should be restored are:
1. To spare the child pain
2. To avoid premature extraction and loss of space for the permanent tooth that follows
3. To avoid an abscess or fistula, which can put at risk the permanent tooth developing beneath the baby tooth.
Fissure Sealants (preventive sealants)
Preventing tooth decay is extremely important in dentistry. One method of prevention, beyond the obvious need for good oral hygiene, is to coat the pits and fissures of the back teeth with special protective coatings, known as fissure sealants.
These sealants are recommended for children over the age of 6, once the first permanent molars have come through. In children who already have many fillings in their baby teeth, it is essential to apply these sealants to give the permanent teeth the best possible protection against decay.
Fissure sealing is a preventive dental treatment in which a plastic material is applied, usually to the pits and fissures or the biting surfaces of the permanent molars at the back of the mouth, sealing them off. Molars are considered the teeth most susceptible to decay because of the anatomy of their chewing surfaces, which unfortunately limits the protection provided by saliva and fluoride and encourages plaque to build up.
Fissure sealants are used to prevent decay or to stop it from progressing. Decay in the pits and fissures of the teeth is prevented by sealing the grooves on these surfaces, thereby stopping food and bacteria from becoming trapped in them. Fissure sealants also create smooth surfaces that are easier to keep clean when brushing.
Fluoride Treatment
Fluoride treatment is a proven method of preventing tooth decay and should be carried out at least once a year. The procedure involves applying a fluoride gel in small trays (rather like mini mouthguards) for one minute.
Afterwards, the child must not eat or drink anything for at least 30 minutes. The gels usually have a pleasant taste and, with the right approach, children generally have no difficulty cooperating.
Fillings and Pulpotomies in Primary Teeth
In addition to these preventive treatments, Dr Themistokleous's practice also offers straightforward, more invasive treatments such as fillings and pulpotomies (nerve treatment) on primary teeth. These treatments always call for a special approach, which the dentist has gained through three years' experience working at a paediatric dental clinic in Manchester, United Kingdom. It should be stressed, however, that Dr Themistokleous is NOT a specialist paediatric dentist, and certain more complex cases are always referred to a paediatric dentist.
