Getting Rid of Gum Disease

As your child develops and grows their first teeth, it's important to consider making their first dental appointment. The first dental cleaning for your child is a milestone time and the start to proper oral hygiene. While planning the appointment for your child, it's important to consider any genetic oral problems that may have been passed down. By being aware of these problems early on, a dentist can set up a treatment plan to help prevent any major problems or issues in the future. Browse through the following different genetic issues that can impact teeth growth and learn how a dentist can help with various treatment options.

Crowded Teeth

It may be hard for us as adults to remember what our teeth were like as children because of so many advancements in the dental field. If you or the child's other parent needed braces or other mouth adjustments, it may have been due to crowded teeth. Medically known as malocclusion, this is a genetic trait that can be passed down to your child. If your child has crowded teeth, then dental appointments are really important for removing plaque and bacteria that can get caught in the teeth. Along with using professional dental tools, a dentist or dental hygienist can teach your child how to properly floss and clean between the crowded areas.

The cleaning appointment is also a good time to discuss future options. This may include a timeline for braces or a referral to an orthodontist for further mouth evaluations. Crowded teeth may also cause problems for permanent adult teeth that are trying to grow in. A dentist can take notes on this and follow up on future appointments.

Amelogenesis Imperfecta

An essential part of any tooth is the enamel that protects it from decay and harmful elements like sugar. If your child suffers from a genetic disorder like Amelogenesis Imperfecta, then their teeth may be prone to weak enamel that chips away and causes discoloration. Starting a treatment plan at a young age is one of the best ways to treat these teeth and prevent major problems in the future. During this treatment process, a fluoride application be applied to the teeth to help strengthen the enamel.

If your child was born with an aggressive form of this defect, then teeth-replacement options may be considered early on. This includes crowns for both permanent teeth and baby teeth. The crowns can act as a substitute for enamel and help prevent all the side effects that can occur when enamel does not form properly on teeth. As the child grows older, the crowns can be made to naturally match the color of teeth so that they blend in and become a regular part of their smile.

Wisdom-Teeth Growth

The growth of wisdom teeth comes from a long line of genetics and human development. Before proper dental care was instituted, wisdom teeth naturally grew in to replace worn or missing teeth in the back of the mouth. Proper hygiene has made wisdom teeth almost obsolete, and typically they will only cause problems in a person's mouth. It's important to take note of any wisdom teeth issues that you or the child's other parent may have had growing up. This includes the removal of the teeth and any pain that they may have caused. Your child's first appointment may be too early to consider removals, but it's a good way to start out their dental-history paperwork.

During future appointments, x-rays can focus on the wisdom-teeth areas and provide you with detailed information about how they are growing inside of the mouth. This will help doctors plan any extractions or other processes needed to treat the wisdom teeth.

Sometimes genetic dental problems are not passed down directly from the parents. It's a good idea to ask your own parents and other relatives about any dental history that you should be aware of.

Make an appointment with a dentistry such as Centre Family Dentistry and start setting up your child with thriving oral hygiene.