Pediatric Dentistry

The first dental visit should happen when the first baby tooth erupts, or by age 1 at the latest. The aim of this visit is less about treatment and more about helping the child get used to the clinical setting, and giving parents the right care information. Early check-ups make it possible to identify and prevent risks such as bottle decay.

Absolutely, yes. Baby teeth act as natural space maintainers for the permanent teeth underneath. Untreated decay can lead to infection, damage to the permanent tooth bud, misaligned teeth from early loss, and problems with jaw development. The “they’ll fall out anyway” approach carries serious risks for a child’s oral health. A baby tooth filling is simple, quick, and extremely important for the child’s future oral health.

A dental sealant should be placed as soon as the permanent molars erupt. The first permanent molars — the 6-year molars — usually erupt at ages 6–7; the second permanent molars — the 12-year molars — erupt at ages 11–13. Placing a sealant once these teeth have erupted, before any decay develops, significantly reduces caries risk. The procedure is completely painless and takes just a few minutes.

Dental anxiety is very common in children and can largely be overcome with the right communication and a trusting environment. At Doredent, our paediatric dentistry specialist uses language tailored to each child’s age and character. With the “tell-show-do” technique, the child first sees the instruments, understands what will happen, and only then is treatment begun. Our advice to parents is to avoid phrases with negative associations like “it won’t hurt” or “there’s nothing to be scared of” before the visit.

A space maintainer is an appliance that preserves the gap left by an early-lost baby tooth so the permanent tooth underneath can erupt in the right place and at the right time. Without a space maintainer, neighbouring teeth drift into the gap, the permanent tooth can’t find room, and crowding develops. That increases the likelihood of needing braces or clear aligner treatment later. A simple and economical measure, a space maintainer can prevent more comprehensive and costly orthodontic treatment down the line.

The 6-year molars — the first permanent molars — are the first permanent teeth to appear in a child’s mouth, and they will remain there for life. Because they erupt behind the existing teeth without any baby tooth falling out, families often mistake them for baby teeth and neglect them. In reality, the 6-year molars are the foundation of chewing function and play a key role in setting the bite. Placing a dental sealant as soon as they erupt and keeping them under regular review is extremely important.

Every child should be assessed by an orthodontic specialist by age 7. For skeletal issues such as crossbite or upper-jaw narrowness, early-phase orthodontics can be performed at ages 7–10. Comprehensive braces or Invisalign treatment is typically started between ages 11–14, once all the permanent teeth have erupted. Paediatric orthodontics at Doredent is planned in coordination between our paediatric dentistry specialist and our orthodontist Uzm. Dt. Merve Özkan Akagündüz.

Yes. Professional fluoride treatment is safe when applied in controlled amounts under the supervision of a paediatric dentistry specialist, and it is one of the most effective preventive methods against decay in children. The clinician sets the fluoride amount based on the child’s age and caries risk. As a general rule, the treatment is repeated every 6 months.

Prolonged thumb-sucking and dummy use can narrow the upper-jaw structure, lead to an open bite on the front teeth, and cause orthodontic problems such as crossbite. As a general rule, these habits should be stopped by age 3. If the habit continues, our paediatric dentistry specialist guides families on habit-breaking techniques and, where needed, habit-breaking appliances can be considered.

After dental trauma, see a dentist as soon as possible. Any fractured fragment should be kept moist in milk, saline, or saliva, and brought along. If a permanent tooth has come out completely, never hold it by the root — hold only the crown and keep it in the same moist medium. With baby-tooth trauma, the risk of damage to the permanent tooth bud needs to be assessed. In every case, get to our clinic without delay to give emergency care the best chance.