Paediatric Dentist in Glyfada

Every child has different needs in terms of the time we need to devote, the materials or the techniques used.

A clinical examination is therefore essential before we can give you the exact cost of the work. This first visit is free of charge.

A paediatric dentist specialises in the dental needs of children and teenagers and in the particular characteristics of a child's emotional development.

They know how to approach children. Their practice is designed to create a warm and friendly atmosphere.

They also have both the training and experience to care for children who are often difficult or afraid, as well as people with additional needs.

In this way, and always with the support of the parents, they gradually build an excellent long-term relationship that will help shape an adult with good oral health.

At our dental practice in Glyfada, we offer services covering the full range of dentistry for children: preventive, restorative, cosmetic and surgical dentistry.

More specifically, we provide tooth extractions; preventive services such as oral-hygiene and dietary guidance, fluoride treatment, sports mouthguards, preventive orthodontics and sealants; and treatments such as fillings, teeth cleaning, crowns and root canal treatment.

We also treat emergencies including dental injuries, toothache, swelling, soft-tissue injuries to the tongue, lips or cheeks, mouth ulcers and herpetic gingivostomatitis.

Children's teeth are not all replaced at the same time.

The front incisors are replaced between 6 and 7 years of age, while the canines and molars are replaced between 9 and 12.

They therefore need to remain in place until it is time for them to fall out naturally, so that the child can: chew food and develop normally;

speak correctly; smile and feel good;

remain free from pain that could take away their appetite for food, play, study and contact with other children and lead them, unhappily, into isolation;

preserve space for the permanent teeth that will erupt once the primary teeth fall out, helping the permanent teeth take up their correct positions and preventing orthodontic problems;

and avoid an infected oral environment that may adversely affect the child's general health.

All of your child's primary teeth—a total of 20—will be replaced.

The front teeth, comprising the upper and lower central and lateral incisors, eight teeth in total, will fall out and be replaced by permanent teeth at around 6–8 years of age.

The remaining 12 primary teeth further back will be replaced between 9 and 12 years of age. At the same time as the incisors are replaced, at around 6–7 years, four permanent teeth—the first permanent molars—will appear behind the primary teeth.

This means that primary and permanent teeth coexist from a very early age, around 6 years.

If primary teeth are not cared for and tooth decay develops in the child's mouth, the problem will soon spread to the permanent teeth as well.

We know that teeth decay when we frequently eat sweets and then do not brush at all or do not brush correctly.

Apart from sweets, however, teeth can decay because of other foods or drinks that contain hidden sugar.

Other factors include dietary habits such as how often these foods are consumed and their sticky texture.

The way and frequency of brushing, using a toothpaste suited to the child's age, are matters we will discuss during our appointments.

Together, we will also explore your child's eating habits and recommend a comprehensive, personalised preventive programme.

The first visit should take place when the first tooth appears, at 6–12 months of age, so that the appropriate hygiene and prevention guidance can establish good oral-health habits for both childhood and your child's later adult life.

Any substance that enters our body—for example iron, iodine, vitamins A and D, oxygen and even water—can be harmful in large doses, but beneficial or essential in the correct doses.

The same applies to fluoride. Particularly in Greece, where the water does not contain an adequate amount, the risk of taking in too much fluoride is greatly reduced.

We use fluoride in safe doses and apply it locally to the surfaces of the teeth, so that your child benefits from its protective action and keeps their teeth strong.

A major problem at these ages is dental caries, a disease that attacks and destroys the teeth. It is caused by acids produced by bacterial plaque and damages tooth enamel.

Plaque forms on teeth when they are not cleaned regularly and develops particularly with sugar-rich foods. Preventing tooth decay requires:

a) systematic hygiene from an early age, with brushing every morning and especially every evening;

b) a healthy diet distributed properly throughout the day, adapted to each age group's nutritional needs, and avoidance of excessive sugary foods, particularly between meals;

c) regular dental checks so that a comprehensive preventive programme can be applied—for example oral-hygiene guidance, dietary analysis, strengthening the teeth with fluoride in its various forms and setting the timing of review—tailored to each child's needs.

The aim is for the child to reach adulthood free from dental problems, and this is a reality for children who begin preventive programmes in the first years of life.