MOST dentists I know are ethical, caring individuals. Many of them, however, are unaware of the effects of some of their procedures. That is why, as a parent or guardian, you need to recognise how dramatic and dangerous dentistry can sometimes be when it comes to your children.
Pedodontics, also known as paediatric dentistry, is a dental speciality that focuses on treating children. Children begin getting their first teeth at about six months of age, and they have a full complement of “baby” teeth—dentists call them deciduous teeth—usually by the age of three. By about the age of six, the child begins losing the “baby” teeth as the permanent teeth come in. The last deciduous teeth are typically lost between 11 and 14 years of age.
Pedodontics treat children from infancy to the point when the child goes off to high school. Particularly, the early years of this period are extremely important. A child is constantly in the process of development; every day sees new changes. Every stage builds on the previous stages of development. Therefore, anything that has adverse effects on a child runs the risk of having an impact on the rest of their life. This means that dental interventions at this time must be professional.
Children’s physical systems can be more vital and reactive than those of adults, so toxic intrusions can cause severe problems. Be extremely cautious with dental work for your children. Too many dentists recommend invasive dental procedures that can be devastating.
We are often unaware of the impact of this type of dental work on young children. Since we do not recognise the problem, we do not have statistics to understand the scope of the issue. We have no way of knowing how many children might have suffered unnecessary illness brought on by dental procedures. Avoid taking a chance with your children’s health.
Dentists, especially paediatric dentists, often use stainless steel crowns on baby teeth. They can place these crowns rapidly, and insurance coverage is better than for amalgams. The problem is that a child can react to the nickel and become very ill, and no one will think that the illness came from the child’s dental work.
In addition to stainless steel crowns and amalgams, topical fluoride treatments can be dangerous for your child. I would also not recommend giving your child fluoridated water or fluoride tablets.
I strongly recommend using only non-metal restorative materials for your child’s dental work. Never, ever allow a dentist to put an amalgam filling in your child’s mouth.
Children should have their first dental visit by the age of seven at the latest. By that time, all their “baby teeth” should have been lost. It should be emphasised that it is important to have early dental check-ups to establish good oral health habits and detect potential and actual issues. These issues can include severely injured, decayed, or infected teeth, as well as mouth injuries, root canal treatments, hypodontia (missing teeth), hypomineralization (soft tooth enamel), genetic conditions, and developmental defects.
If your child is ill, do not allow a dentist who is not properly trained in health, nutrition, and the correct process for amalgam removal to do the removal, or the results could be disastrous.