For many parents, certain dental terminologies will be unfamiliar and can be confusing to understand without knowing some of the basic vocabulary used in a pediatric dental office. When you take your child in for pediatric dental care in Olathe, you will be able to comprehend what is taking place during examinations and treatments that are done in the future. The following are several dental terms you should familiarize yourself with: • Abscess – refers to an infected part of the gums or tooth that is engorged and filled with puss. It is oftentimes extremely painful, swollen, and warm to the touch. Abscesses may indicate the presence of a secondary infection in other areas of the mouth. • Bottle carries – this condition results when an infant is continually put to bed with a bottle of formula, juice, or milk in their mouths. It is sometimes referred to as bottle rot but that is an older, lesser used terminology. Breastfed infants may succumb to this condition if their teeth are not cleaned after feeding. • Filling – a term that everyone who has ever visited a dentist should be familiar with. The term “filling” refers to a procedure used in the treatment of carries or cavities and tooth decay. Most pediatric dentists oftentimes choose to steer clear of filling an infant’s teeth and take a wait and watch approach to this procedure. • Primary dentition – the first or primary set of teeth or toddler teeth. In most cases, the primary dentition is comprised of 20 teeth and not a full set of 32 as in adults. The primaries start emerging somewhere around the age of 6 months. • Rubber dam – a stretchy sheet used to cover the area being worked on from the rest of the mouth in order to provide a clean setting for the treatment that needs to be done. It also prevents the child from swallowing any loose materials resulting from the treatment. • Spacer or space maintainer – whenever a child loses a tooth or teeth ahead of schedule, shifting of the teeth can be prevented by using this dental device. They can also be used when preparing the child for other dental treatments. In closing, you should never be afraid to ask about any unfamiliar terms that you hear when taking your child for pediatric dental care in Olathe. Dentists and their office staff members are used to using these terms regularly even though they may overlook the fact that they are unfamiliar to the parents.
Related Articles -
Pediatric, Dental, Care, in, Olathe,
|