| The most common oral diseases
in children
The most common
oral diseases during childhood and adolescence are dental
caries and gingivitis..
Dental caries and gingiviti are caused by bacteria found in
plaque (the white coating forming on teeth surfaces, when
they are not cleaned).
 DENTAL
CARIES
 Dental
caries is a gradual process that destroys
the tooth structure. Epidemiologic data has shown that dental
caries is the most prevalent disease in children.
Dental
caries is NOT inherited. Cariogenic bacteria
(the ones causing dental caries) are usually transmitted to
the child after the eruption of their primary teeth. This
is usually a mother to child transmission or more accuarately
a care-taker to child transmition.
It
should be noted that these cariogenic
bacterias in order to cause caries need the
presence of carohydrates (mainly sugar). Children
using bottle containing milk or other sweet drinks, especially
during night-time, present a rapid carious
destruction of their primary teeth.
 Complete
destruction of the upper primary teeth and presence of abscess
in a 3-year old child with a baby bottle habit.
Caries in posterior primary teeth of the
same child.
The
restoration of carious teeth in a baby bottle
case should be completed as soon as possible, as the progression
of the disease will eventually lead to premature loss of the
affected primary teeth. The same risk exists for permanent
teeth in young patients (especially after 17 years of age)
with frequent consumption of carbohydrates and poor oral hygiene.
Keeping
regular recall appointments is
crucial in early diagnosis of carious lesions and therefore
planning the appropriate treatment.
GINGIVITIS
Gingivitis
is the most prevalent disease of gingival tissue (gums) in
children. The main symptoms are bleeding while brushing, red
and swollen gums.
The
severity and
incidence of
gingivitis increase during adolescence, as hormonal changes
affect gingival health. However, in any case, the lack of
proper oral hygiene is a determining factor for the presence
of gingivitis. Nowadays, gingivitis is not seen only in adults,
but also in children with poor oral hygiene
 |
|
|
Healthy gums
|
Gingivitis
|
| |
|
|
