Did you know 46% of children 0-8 years of age in the UK have tooth decay? Tooth decay is largely preventable yet it is so common in children. According to data from Public Health England the majority of tooth decay in children under 6 is left untreated. This can lead to children being awake at night because of dental pain, missing school and parents having to miss work if they have to take children into the dentist for emergency appointments.
Unfortunately, children can wait up to 6 months for certain dental treatments on the NHS, or be unable to find a practice that fulfils all their oral healthcare needs. At Dental Rooms, we are able to offer appointments quickly to avoid long waiting times. After school appointments are also available.
We also have a child-friendly environment, modern, child-friendly equipment and a Specialist in Paediatric Dentistry to provide the best service for our young patients.
Will my child benefit from seeing a Specialist in Paediatric Dentistry?
A Specialist in paediatric has had three years additional training in treating children and deals solely with the oral healthcare of children from infancy through the teenage years. They can:
• Manage anxious children
Our Paediatric Specialist takes the time to engage children to build confidence, educate and value their dental health. We also offer Inhalation Sedation ‘happy gas’ to help children relax and accept dental treatment.
• Treat dental injuries including fractured, displaced or knocked out teeth
In these cases we recommend early dental assessment to be able to provide the best treatment to enhance the long-term prognosis of traumatised teeth.
• Monitor dental development and identify dental abnormalities
At Dental Rooms we are unique as we can offer our children an integrated specialist service.
The Paediatric and Orthodontic specialists are able to work together closely to monitor the developing teeth at various stages in childhood and identify children who may benefit from early brace treatment. This can sometimes negate the need for extensive brace treatment during the teenage years.
• Provide a fully comprehensive service including oral health examinations, fluoride treatments, fillings, preformed metal crowns and root canal treatment for children
We are able to deal with all elements of your child’s oral health, from basic examinations through to complex cases.
Baby or ‘primary’ teeth are very important to a child’s health and development. Below are some of the reasons why:
• Tooth alignment and position – Primary teeth save space for the adult teeth, if the baby tooth is lost early due to tooth decay, the adjacent teeth tend to move into that space. The permanent tooth then has less room to grow and can become impacted (stuck).
• Healthy permanent teeth – The permanent teeth develop very close to the roots of the baby teeth. Baby teeth are much smaller and cavities can spread very quickly. If cavities are left untreated, the baby tooth can develop an infection or abscess which can hinder tooth development and cause damage to the permanent tooth underneath.
• Health and nutrition – Teeth are needed for chewing. Dental pain from cavities can lead to nutritional deficiencies if the child is not able to properly chew their food. If cavities are left untreated, there is a great risk of an infection forming leading to a dental abscess. It is important to take your child to the dentist from a young age to prevent tooth decay.
Dr Ayesha Patel – Specialist in Paediatric Dentistry
BDS, MFDS RCS(Edin), PG Cert Dental Ed, MPaed Dent RCPS(Glas)
- Dedicated to delivering the highest level of care in a child friendly environment, supported by a collaborative team of dental specialists
- Up-to-date with evidence-based treatments
- Committed to improving the oral health of children
- CLICK HERE for her full bio