Infant Oral Health Flashcards
What happens at an infant oral health visit?
Exam
Prevention
Guidance
Discuss common findings in children under 3
Why do babies need to see a dentist?
To establish a dental home Risk assessment Education and anticipatory guidance Prevention Early intervention and treatment
What is needed to develop risk assessment?
Medical history Dental history Social history Diet and feeding practices Fluoride exposure Trauma history Oral habits
What is evaluated in the risk assessment?
ECC Trauma Oral habits Malocclusion Your goal is to prevent a problem
What are you looking for in the soft and hard tissue exam?
normal eruption formation defects plaque signs of caries soft tissues lift the lip!
What is the recommendation for varnish for moderate risk?
every 6mo
What is the recommendation for varnish for high risk?
every 3mo
What is anticipatory guidance?
provide practical, developmentally appropriate and personalized health information in anticipation of significant physical, social and psychological milestones and challenges
–this is customized using history, exam and risk assessment
What is early childhood caries?
the presence of one or more decayed, missing or filled tooth surfaces in any primary tooth in a child under the age of 6
any smooth surface caries in child under 3 is severe ECC
What are the risk factors for risk factors?
medical history plaque accumulation white spot lesions and caries history bottle/sippy cup breastfeeding fluoride exposure enamel hypoplasia social factors
How to counsel patients in terms of diet?
Tailor your dietary counseling to the family
Set goals they can achieve
Suggest non-cariogenic alternative
Try limiting that favorite drink to a specific time of day
What are the characteristics of teething?
Associated with slight increase temp, drooling, biting, ear rubbing, irritability, wakefulness, facial rash, poor appetite
Most children experience no discomfort
Palliative treatment- hard, cold, safe; oral analgesics; topical anesthetics discouraged
How to prevent trauma?
Identify high risk children
Baby proof home
Safety measures
What are oral habits?
Thumb or finger
This is normal, most kids stop on their own by 2-3 yrs
Can affect oral tissue and digits
Potential problems- anterior open bite, reduced arch width, altered skeletal growth
Non-aggressive treatment until age 6
What are some other findings in kids under 3?
Natal/neonatal teeth
–Usually they are the primary teeth
Riga-Fede disease
–ulcer on ventral surface of tongue
–Tx options: smooth sharp incisal edge, composite crown, remove tooth
Eruption cyst
Epstein pearls, bohn nodules, dental lamina cysts
