Treatment of Dental care for babies and children

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Regular trips to the dentist and proper tooth brushing are the most important parts of looking after your childrenâ€™s teeth.

Other treatments you may come across include:

Dental X-rays. These are used to show the development of teeth that are still hidden inside the mouth, to check for cracks in the teeth, and to make sure they are properly lined up.
Hygienist. Your dentist may recommend occasional appointments with a dental hygienist. This involves a thorough clean and polish of the teeth, to remove the sticky plaque that can build up. Your hygienist can also give advice on how to improve your brushing technique.
Fluoride. Fluoride is a substance that helps to protect teeth from decay. Many areas already have fluoride added to their water supply. If not, your dentist may advise giving your children fluoride drops.
Fissure sealants. The biting edge of your teeth, especially your back teeth (molars), have a very uneven surface. It is easy for tiny amounts of food to get trapped in the tiny dents or fissures, and if you do not brush them thoroughly, bacteria can build up and start to decay the tooth. Your dentist may recommend that some of your teeth should be given a coating to seal or close up the fissures, to prevent this. It is a quick and painless procedure, similar to applying a coat of varnish, and may sometimes be done as part of your routine dental check up.
Fillings. When a tooth is decayed, the dentist usually repairs it by drilling out the rotten portion, and filling the gap.
Tooth extraction. Teeth may need to be taken out, because they are decayed beyond repair, or because the mouth is overcrowded. See dental decay topic for more information.
Braces. When teeth are not lined up properly in the mouth, you may need to be fitted with a brace. This is a device for straightening teeth and you will usually need to see a specialist called an orthodontist, to have this fitted.