Infant and Toddler Oral Health
Greater New York Dental Meeting
December 1, 2002
Steven Chussid D.D.S.

Timing of First Visit
Guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommend:
An initial oral evaluation should occur within six months of the eruption of the first primary tooth and no later than twelve months of age
Revised in 1994

Timing of First Visit
Dental caries is the single most common chronic childhood disease-5 times more common than asthma and 7 times more common than hay fever
Over 50 percent of 5- to 9-year old children have at least one cavity or filling, and the proportion increases to 78 percent among 17-year olds

Bright Futures: Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children, and Adolescents
Based on extensive review of scientific literature and best practices
Represent consensus of more than 100 multidisciplinary experts: reviewed by over 1000 health professionals
Developed with support of HRSA’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau

Bright Futures: Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children, and Adolescents
Make an appointment for the toddler’s first dental examination and risk assessment at 12 months

Rationale for First Oral Exam
Early intervention and risk assessment are essential components in assuring that oral health is an outcome for all children

Risk Assessment
Provides the dentist the opportunity to tailor periodicity and oral health supervision to the individual’s level of risk for specific diseases, conditions, and injuries

Anticipatory Guidance
Refers to the information provided to the child and family about the child’s current oral health and what to expect as the child enters the next developmental phase

Risk Factors for Early Childhood Caries
Fluoride History
Dietary Habits
Sleep time Habits
Oral Hygiene Habits
SES
Special health needs
History of BBTD
High Mutans Streptococci count
Poor family oral health

Risk Factors-
Fluoride History
Fluoridated community?
Taking supplements?
Well water?  Fluoride level?
Fluoride dentifrice?
Bottled water?

Risk Factors-
Dietary Habits
Does/did child sleep with a bottle?
Is/was child breastfed?
Does child drink from a cup?
Types, consistency, and frequency of food and liquid intake

Risk Factors-
Sleep time Habits

Risk Factors-
Oral Hygiene
Nature of care given
Consistency
Products used

Risk Factors-
Poor Family Oral Health
Caries rate of primary caregiver
Transmission of S. mutans from caregiver to child
Parental Attitude

Risk Factors-
SES
Striking disparities in dental disease by income
Poor children suffer twice as much dental caries and their disease is much more likely to be untreated

Risk Factors-
Special Health Needs
Special diets
Medications containing sucrose
Physical limitations

Anticipatory Guidance-
Topics to Incorporate
Oral Development
Oral Hygiene/Health
Fluoride
Diet and Nutrition
Habits
Injury Prevention

Anticipatory Guidance-
Oral Development
Teething
Drooling, desire to bite or chew, mild pain
No evidence of high fever, diarrhea or sleep problems
Patterns of Eruption
Occlusion
Exfoliation

Eruption Patterns of Primary Teeth
Tooth formation begins at about 7 weeks in utero
Mineralization at about the 4th month
Sequence more important than timing
Symmetrical pattern
Mandibular teeth erupt first

Anticipatory Guidance-
Oral Hygiene/Health
Oral hygiene techniques
Transmission of microflora to infant
Use of dentifrice
Child’s role in oral hygiene
Radiographs and sealants

Toothbrushing
Should begin with eruption of first tooth
Position child to assure ease of access and stabilization of head
Proper size toothbrush
Technique
Pea sized amount of toothpaste
Supervised until about 6 years of age

Anticipatory Guidance-
Fluoride
Assess fluoride status and determine if and what supplementation is needed
Discuss toxicity and safety

Anticipatory Guidance-
Fluoride

Anticipatory Guidance-
Diet and Nutrition
Nursing bottle decay
Encourage weaning
Role of sugar in the caries process
Frequency of carbohydrate intake

Anticipatory Guidance-
Injury Prevention
Give parents emergency numbers
Simple instructions in the event of injury
Electrical cord safety
Mouthguards

Nonnutritive Sucking Habits
Normal part of neonatal development
Arise from rooting and sucking reflexes
Habit normally ceases between two and four years of age
Effects on dentition depends on intensity, frequency, and duration of habit
Success of intervention depends on child’s readiness

Pacifier Use and Safety
AAPD recommends pacifiers only in children that exhibit NNS behavior
Pacifier should be sturdy, one-piece, flexible
NEVER attach around child’s neck
Replace when worn
Don’t use sweeteners
Don’t allow child to run or play with pacifier in mouth

Effects of NNS

Lap Examination Procedure
Dentist and caregiver make a ‘cradle’ by sitting face to face on chairs and joining knees
Head in lap of dentist
Parent supports child

Lap Examination

Common Oral Conditions
Inclusion cysts
Natal/Neonatal Teeth
Iron Stain
Primary Herpetic Gingivostomatitis

Inclusion Cysts
Epstein’s pearls
Midpalatal raphe
Epithelial remnant
Bohn’s nodules
Side of alveolar ridge
Mucous gland remnant
 Dental lamina cyst
Crest of alveolar ridge
Odontogenic epithelial remnant

Natal/Neonatal Teeth
Natal teeth- present at birth
Neonatal teeth- erupt shortly after birth
Most lower incisors
Most are of normal primary complement
Due to superficially positioned tooth bud
Treatment

Natal/Neonatal Tooth

Iron Stain
Extrinsic
Easily removed

Primary Herpetic Gingivostomatitis
Usually occurs between 6 months and
    6 years of age
Fever
Malaise
Cervical lymphadenopathy
Gingival erythema
Fragile vesicles quickly progress to painful ulcers
Acute phase lasts 7 to 10 days

Primary Herpetic Gingivostomatitis

Primary Herpetic Gingivostomatitis
Treatment is palliative and supportive
Rest, antipyretics, and analgesics
Patient is contagious
Be aware of dehydration!
Palliative mouthrinses
Diphenhydramine HCL (12.5/5ml) mixed with Kaopectate (or Maalox)- 50% mixture by volume
Local anesthetics (such as viscous lidocaine or dyclonine) are also used-either individually or in previous mixture

Management of Traumatized Primary Teeth
Keep it simple
Always consider developing succedaneous tooth and behavior
Be alert to potential child abuse
Advise parents of permanent tooth injury possibility

Crown Fractures of
Primary Teeth
 Ellis Class I and II
No treatment, selective grinding, or composite bandage restoration
Ellis Class III
Pulpotomy, pulpectomy or extraction

Luxation of Primary Teeth
Extract tooth if
buccal plate is fractured
Radiographs reveal that primary tooth is impinging on follicle of permanent tooth
Otherwise, allow to re-erupt or re-align

Avulsion of Primary Teeth
Don’t replace

Root Fracture of Primary Teeth
If coronal fragment is not excessively mobile-observe
If coronal fragment is very mobile-     extract fragment
If extraction is treatment of choice-   do not attempt to remove apical fragment

Thank You!