Pediatric Dentistry (Pedodontics)

Pedodontics (Pediatric Dentistry) is the department of Dentistry that aims to protect the milk and permanent teeth of children aged 0-13 in a healthy way and to eliminate the problems caused by dental caries, trauma, genetic factors, environmental factors and similar reasons in these children. The word Pedodonti, which originates from the Latin, means “Child Teeth”. Antalya Pediatric dentistry is a branch of dentistry that carefully monitors and treats children’s oral health and dental development from childhood, and also includes preventive measures. In this period, the dentist performs all kinds of preventive and therapeutic treatments and preventive applications according to the oral health needs of infants, children and young adults.
Deciduous teeth usually begin to erupt about 6 months after birth, and by the age of 2.5, a total of 20 milk teeth are completed. Milk teeth have structural and anatomical differences compared to permanent teeth and are more resistant to tooth decay and wear. Although the most important function of these milk teeth is to feed the child, they also have the task of following the language, aesthetics and cavities of the permanent teeth. Baby teeth caused by caries cause pain during breastfeeding and accompanying malnutrition of the child, but at the same time, the caries loses its size and cannot provide enough space for permanent teeth. This can lead to space shortages that may occur in the future.
Permanent teeth begin to erupt at the age of 6, and between this period and the age of 12, there are both milk and permanent teeth in the oral environment. If you have cavities in your mouth during this mixed dentition period, there is a risk of cavities in your permanent teeth. At the same time, the treatment of newly erupted permanent teeth can be distinguished from mature permanent teeth and may require specialist knowledge. Pedodontists (Pediatric Dentists) monitor the child’s oral and dental health, jaw and facial development from infancy, and perform all therapeutic treatment and protection applications when necessary.