How Common Are Cavities in 3 Year Olds?

Cavities in young children are, unfortunately, more common than people think. According to findings from research carried out by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, more than 40% of children aged between two to eleven years get tooth cavities. Due to the high risk of cavity infection among children, you as a parent must know the early symptom of dental carries so that you can take your child to a pediatric dentist near you for immediate treatment.

What Does a Pediatric Dentist Do?

Pediatric dentists (pedodontists) are dentists who have specialized in diagnosing and treating dental problems affecting young patients, that is, infants, children, and teenagers. Like regular dentists, they are highly trained to handle various dental issues related to gums, jaws, and teeth. Research shows that good dental care in small children impacts their future dental health. A lack of good dental care can put your child at risk of future tooth decay. Pediatric dentists help protect children from future oral problems by checking their teeth, jaws, and gums for early signs of dental problems.

A pedodontist usually does the following for young patients:

• Carry out oral health exam
• Treat cavities and gum disease
• Dental cleaning and fluoride treatment
• Repair damaged teeth like fractures and chips

What Are Pediatric Dentistry Procedures?

Pediatric dental procedures are dental procedures meant for children and young adults. The procedures are pretty similar to the ones intended for adults. A child’s dentist will inspect your kid’s teeth and gums to see if they have any oral health problems that require immediate treatment. Here are common examples of procedures that relate to pediatric dentistry:

Dental Filling

Dental filling is one of the most common dental procedures for kids. Children can suffer from tooth decay resulting in damage to their teeth structures. Teeth infected with cavities can have tiny holes that bacteria can hide in. Your kid’s dentist will recommend dental filling to protect your child’s teeth from further damage, relieve dental pain, and make their teeth more effective.

Dental Cleaning

Regular dental cleaning protects children from cavities and other dental problems. That can be quite helpful since brushing your kid’s teeth may not be enough to remove all food particles and bacteria inside your mouth. Therefore, to remove all the plaque in your kid’s mouth and protect them from oral diseases, you must take them to a dentist near them for routine dental cleaning.

Tooth Extractions

Depending on the severity of your kid’s dental problem, tooth removal may be the only way to stop the disease from spreading to adjacent teeth. We usually do our best to prevent decay or infection in a tooth from spreading without performing a dental extraction. However, in some cases, the attempts to save a severely damaged tooth may bear no fruits; removing the tooth will be more effective.

Fitting of Dental Crowns

Children with missing or severely damaged teeth may need to get dental crowns. The dental device is very effective, durable, and natural looking, making them one of the most popular tooth restoration options available. Pediatric dentistry in Spring is well vast in carrying out dental crown restoration procedures, so you won’t have to worry about your kid experiencing any complications during treatment.

How to Protect Your Child’s Teeth From Cavities

Most cases of tooth cavities in children are related to bad oral hygiene and too much consumption of food rich in sugar. So although it’s safe to give your kid candy and ice cream, not limiting the number of times they can eat them may increase their chances of getting cavities.

• To protect your kid from cavities, ensure they brush their teeth regularly and after consuming food rich in starch and sugars.
• If your kid is too young, help them brush their teeth since they may not be doing it properly, thus making it easy for bacteria to thrive.
• Most importantly, take your kid to a pediatric dentist for regular dental checkups and cleaning to protect them from dental emergencies.

Conclusion

Dental caries is quite common in all children, including those younger than three years. You can safeguard your child’s teeth from cavities by not feeding them by following the tips we provided above. On the other hand, if you suspect your kid is suffering from tooth decay or other dental problems, take them to The Smile Designer of Spring for diagnosis and treatment. Our kid dentist has years of experience treating tooth decay and other oral issues among children, thus will ensure your kid receives the best treatment.