Milk Teeth to Permanent Teeth

What to expect when your child turns six?

The simple answer is, it’s time to take your child to a pediatric dentist. But you must be wondering that what will happen at the age of 6 years and why you should take your child to the pediatric dentist. Let’s answer your query in this blog.

When your child turns six, they start shedding their milk teeth, and permanent teeth will replace them. The eruption of the permanent teeth needs to be monitored carefully for any abnormality.

What to monitor and what could be the abnormalities?

Spacing

The initial spacing between the permanent teeth is not usually the problem. As permanent teeth are larger than the milk teeth, the initial space will go away with time. Visiting a pediatric dentist to reassure the growth of permanent teeth in the correct direction could help psychologically.

Crowding

If the permanent teeth are crowded at the time of the eruption, this needs to be corrected as they will become even more crowded once all the permanent teeth erupt and develop properly. We recommend you visiting Vanilla Smiles for the initial examination and treatment strategies to address this.

Double Row

The permanent teeth occupy the same spot as the milk teeth have occupied in an ideal condition. To accomplish this, permanent teeth start dissolving the root of milk teeth when they are ready to erupt. In some cases, when the root of milk teeth does not begin to dissolve or takes time to dissolve, the permanent teeth come in behind them and forms a double row of teeth.

The double row of teeth is a concern aesthetically and functionally both, and you should visit a pediatric dentist to get it addressed. In most cases, after evaluation, the pediatric dentist will either decided to extract the milk teeth or give some time to the milk teeth for shedding naturally. But the decision is case-specific, and your child’s teeth should be evaluated before devising any treatment strategy.

At Vanilla Smiles, Pune, the doctors’ team is equipped and experienced to address any such condition and secure your child’s smile.

Permanent first molars, highest caries prevalence

The first permanent molars usually erupt between 6 and 7 years; hence they are also known as “six-year molars.” It is extra permanent teeth as they don’t replace existing primary teeth.

The occlusal (chewing) surface of the first permanent molar is the most common site for caries. Caries could happen within a short period of their eruption due to their morphologic and functional characteristics.

If not treated early, dental caries can ultimately lead to the extraction of the first permanent molars, and your child can’t afford to lose them as the first molar is vital for chewing food and other upcoming teeth. Additionally, there is always a probability of getting caries extended to the upcoming second and third molars.

Hence it becomes crucial to get the first molar examined. Using pit and fissure sealants can reduce the risk of caries by protecting the first molar. It provides a physical barrier that keeps bacteria away from decaying the tooth.

Now the occlusal (chewing) surface of the first molar is protected by sealant; the outer surface of teeth needs to be protected too to prevent dental caries. To achieve this, we use fluoride varnish, which is made up of fluoride, a mineral that can strengthen tooth enamel (outer coating on teeth).

Pit fissure sealant and fluoride varnish together ensure the complete protection of your child’s precious teeth.

Operculum

An operculum is a flap of the gum tissue over the partially erupted tooth. It can be uncomfortable and painful, particularly during the bite. Operculum is susceptible to infection due to the deposition of food particles as it is sometimes painful to brush or have an active site for food lodgment when the tooth has erupted partially. In the case of infection, your child may experience swelling, pain, or maybe pus discharge.

The treatment option is removing infection and a minor surgery known as operculectomy. We remove the flap and allow the permanent tooth to erupt correctly. This surgery can also be laser-assisted, making it quick and most comfortable for your kid.

Real life case at Vanilla Smiles, Pune

In the below series of images, you can see how a pit fissure sealant helped reduce the grooves in the chewing surface of the first molar and made it more smooth to reduce the risk of caries.

This is the new first permanent molar. These grooves are the reason for dental caries.

The food gets retained in these grooves and allows bacteria to grow, resulting in dental caries.

Watching closely, you can see the plaque deposition and initial signs of cavitation.

Smoothening these grooves protect the teeth from becoming a site for bacteria to grow.

Using tri plaque id gel, we can further visualize the condition.

You can see three major colors on the surface of the teeth. These colors represent new, old and high-risk plaque, which gives the site to bacteria to grow.