| Theory and Practice of Pediatric Dentistry |
| Primary Dentition | |
| General Morphological considerations | |
| Implications of Primary tooth morphology | |
| Procedures in Primary teeth |
| 20 primary teeth as compared to 32 permanent teeth | |
| No premolars in the primary dentition | |
| The primary molars are replaced by the premolars. | |
| The permanent molars erupt distal to the primary second molars |
General Morphologic considerations
| Crown | |
| Pulp | |
| Root |
| Shorter | |
| Narrower occlusal table | |
| Constricted in the cervical portion | |
| Thinner enamel and dentin layers | |
| Enamel rods in the cervical area direct occlusally | |
| Broad and flat contacts | |
| Color is usually lighter |
| Prominent mesio-buccal cervical bulge seen in primary molars |
| Larger | |
| Pulp horns are closer to the outer surface | |
| Mesial pulp horn is higher | |
| Md molar pulp is larger than the Mx pulp | |
| Form of the pulp follows the external surface of the crown | |
| Usually a pulp horn under each cusp |
| Anterior teeth roots are narrower mesio-distally | |
| Posterior teeth have longer and more slender roots in relation to crown size | |
| Molar roots flare more as they approach the apex |
Implications of Primary tooth morphology
| The progress of caries is much faster in the primary dentition, so incipient lesions should be restored sooner than later! | |||
| Thinner enamel and dentin | |||
| Mesial pulp horn higher | |||
| Restorative Dentistry | |||
| Enamel thickness is less, therefore modifications are necessary in the cavity prep. | |||
| Broad contacts need to be restored | |||
| Beware of the mesio-buccal pulp horn | |||
| May need to do SSC if both proximal surfaces involved | |||
| Preserve the buccal cervical ridge to obtain mechanical retention for SSC | |||
| Surgical Procedures | |||
| Conical anterior roots facilitate easy removal | |||
| Flared roots of the molars - use a lot of caution as premolar buds are located between the roots | |||
| Pulp Therapy | |||
| Tortuous and irregular pulp canals | |||
| Pulpotomy | |||
| Pulpectomy | |||
| Primary teeth have | ||
| Thinner enamel and dentin layers | ||
| Pulp horns closer to the outer surface | ||
| Mesial pulp horn much higher | ||
| Larger pulps | ||
| Enamel rods direct slightly occlusally in the cervical area | ||
| Cervical area is constricted significantly | ||
| Roots flare as they approach the apex | ||
| More tortuous and irregular pulp canals | ||