advice
A
trip to the dentist’s chair has
long been synonymous with
pain, but new techniques
are ensuring children enjoy a
much more pleasant experience when
they visit the tooth doctor.
Hong Kong dentist Dr Eugene Lai
says while most treatments used to be
“symptomatic”, or in response to pain,
new treatments focus on prevention.
“Kids don’t need to be scared about
coming to see us,” says Dr Lai. “When
good routines are established early, they
set the child up for a lifetime of healthy
teeth and pain-free visits.”
When to start?
Ideally, a child’s first visit to the dentist will
not be for themselves. “Bring a young
child with you on appointments for older
siblings or parents, so they become
familiar with what goes on in the chair
first,” says Dr Lai. “When the back two
baby molars erupt, it’s time for them to
have their first visit.”
It’s estimated that up to 30 per cent
of children seeing the dentist for the first
time will need fillings, and Dr Lai says
there are several reasons why.
“Often young children have been
allowed to drink juice from bottles, which
is a major cause of early decay; drink it
from a cup, preferably through a straw,
and try to follow it up with a swish of
water.”
A lack of flossing is another cause of
early problems. The modern diet is highly
refined and tiny particles of food are
easily caught between the teeth, feeding
the bacteria that make the holes.
“These days, 90 per cent of the
cavities we fill are found between the
teeth, an area where brushing doesn’t
reach,” says Dr Lai. “There is now floss
available which is very fine, and will
gently pass between the teeth without
snapping the gum and hurting the child –
and that’s the key to long-term flossing.”
Tooth technology
Dentists now have access to laser
technology that can identify tiny trouble
spots with the point of a wand. It means
those areas can be easily treated before
turning into decay. Fissure sealants are
also recommended for all children who
have their permanent molars, as these
are the teeth most often filled.
If your child does need a filling, fear
not, it’s not the same experience you
remember. Topical anaesthetic numbs
the surface, and thinner needles with
Smile
style
Maintain healthy teeth and a confident smile with the latest
“pain-free” trends in dentistry, writes
Katrina Shute
.
slower injections result in less pain.
All fillings are now metal free, having
been replaced with a tooth-coloured
composite.
“Having a filling done should not be
painful,” says Dr Lai, “and you should not
be able to tell there’s a filling in the tooth
after it’s done.”
LATEST TIPS FOR HEALTHY TEETH
• Eat more hard, raw fruit and veg
to clean teeth the natural way
• Drink water after juice and soda
to “rinse” the teeth of sugar
• Brush in a small circular motion
rather than a sawing motion
• Floss once a day, always BEFORE
brushing
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