Dental check-up for children and young people – gentle dental care

Growing children should have their teeth checked once a year. It is also advisable to visit a dental hygienist for a thorough cleaning every year.

Dentists are able to detect any developmental disturbances at a very early stage and correct them with orthodontic treatment, for instance.

Looking after the teeth of a child is important as the future condition of the teeth is based on childhood. Healthy milk teeth usually indicate that the permanent teeth will also remain healthy unless the diet changes significantly.

The bacterial flora of the mouth is formed in early childhood. If a child has no cavities in their milk teeth by the age of five, they are likely to have healthy teeth at an older age. Several dental issues can be avoided by looking after the condition of the child’s teeth.

The key objective of paediatric dental care is to keep the milk teeth in good condition and in place for an adequately long period of time. Healthy baby teeth help permanent teeth to grow in the right place and reduce the need for orthodontic treatment.

Energetic children are also more likely to have injuries in the mouth. Any injuries should be checked by a dentist as soon as possible.

Tooth brushing and regular meal times prevent the development of cavities.

The best way to prevent the development of cavities is to

• maintain a regular meal rhythm
• avoid snacks
• and brush your teeth twice a day.

Dental caries is an infectious disease most commonly passed on to children by their parents. Parents should not use the same spoon as their children.

Children are particularly vulnerable to cavities in the tooth eruption phase, i.e. when the child is under two years old and when their permanent teeth are erupting between the ages of 5–7 or 10–13.

Mehiläinen’s paediatric dentists, or paedodontists, always treat children and young people gently and compassionately, and they are able to ensure that children or young people do not develop unnecessary anxiety towards dental care.

Mehiläinen’s dentists, who are specialised in treating patients with dental fear, also conduct dental check-ups for patients with dental fear.

In addition, Mehiläinen offers a wide range of services for patients with dental fear, and the treatment can be performed under general anaesthesia, if necessary.