Our high-quality staff at AU Dental Hospital Pediatric Dentistry Clinic provides primary (milk) teeth and general dental treatment as well as modern preventive dental care to children aged 0–15 while helping them overcome dental anxiety. Such procedures can also be carried out using sedation or general anaesthesia when necessary. Children hospitalized at the emergency department due to dental trauma can receive emergency treatment in a separate unit. Play rooms and activities are available for child patients, serving as a good place for kids to spend quality time while waiting for their appointment.
AU Pediatric Dentistry Clinic provides comprehensive oral health care that includes the following treatments designed to manage the development of jaw and occlusion: tooth decay prevention, dental treatment for decayed primary teeth and permanent teeth, placement of appropriate space maintainers during or after premature extraction of primary teeth to allow normal eruption of the permanent tooth, treatment of traumatic dental injuries, surgical exposure of impacted primary teeth and removal of extra teeth. Our main aims and objectives as a paediatric dentistry clinic are to preserve the integrity of the primary dentition so as to help children experience a smooth transition from milk teeth to permanent teeth; to protect dental and oral health of patients aged 0–15 through specific prevention and intervention strategies; and to teach children how to avoid bad oral and dental habits that can lead to tooth decay.
We provide dental treatment under general anaesthesia to paediatric patients with special needs; also treat children with weak lips, inadequate lip closure and other disorders arising from weak facial muscles.
Dental treatment of infant children (ages 0-2) and early childhood caries (in children less than 6 years old) are performed in accordance with the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry guidelines.
Your child can only have a healthy, lifelong smile with proper care of primary teeth. We hope to help your children on the path towards lifelong happy smiles…
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. At what age should my child first visit the dentist?
Assessment of tooth decay risk in children should be performed and oral health education should be provided to young children and their families when primary teeth first start erupting at the age of six months and before 12 months.
2. When should I start brushing my child's teeth?
With the eruption of first primary tooth, parents should start teaching their child oral hygiene practices and how to brush their teeth. You should brush your child's teeth using a soft-bristled toothbrush.
3. How much toothpaste should I put on my child’s toothbrush? What kind of toothpaste should I use?
For children under 3 years of age, you should use a rice-grain size smear of toothpaste, and for children 3-6 years old you should use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste.
4. How often should I take my child to the dentist?
We recommend examinations every three months for children with high risk of tooth decay, and every six months for children moderate and lower risk of tooth decay.
5. What is Severe Early Childhood Caries?
In children less than 3 years of age, any sign of smooth surface caries is an indication of severe early childhood caries.
6. Applying general anaesthesia or sedation as part of dental care for children
Children exhibiting disruptive or uncooperative behaviour during tooth extraction are mostly convinced using non-pharmacological methods. As for the pharmalogical approach to the issue, it mainly comprises the administration of sedative drugs or general anaesthesia, as a last resort, in cases where psychological methods fail. Sedation is part of various techniques that are used by dental practitioners worldwide, especially for uncooperative paediatric patients. To minimise risks, your dentist may ask for a pre-operative blood testing in children. The dental treatment of paediatric patients are performed under sedation or general anaesthesia upon the approval of the anaesthetist.
7. May premature deciduous teeth extraction lead to the future manifestation of crowding?
Dental crowding may manifest when permanent teeth cannot erupt or erupt into crowded positions after premature primary tooth extraction. Space maintainers are 2-3 mm thick ringlike appliances used to prevent crowded or crooked teeth.
8. Do dental caries in primary baby teeth need to be treated?
Bacteria causing tooth decay and the bacteria settling under the gums after tooth decay begins are not the same bacteria. Accordingly, you should regularly take your child to the dentist to help protect your child’s oral and dental health as well as general well-being. Besides, primary teeth are vital for guiding the permanent teeth into place. Early removal of baby tooth may cause permanent teeth underneath not to erupt normally, erupt into crowded positions or remain impacted.
9. When do primary teeth begin to form?
Primary teeth begin to form at about six weeks in utero.
10. Is tooth decay preventable?
Protective and preventive approaches as well as regular dental exams can help prevent tooth decay.