Adolescent Dentistry
Strategies To Help
Pre-Teens & Teens Keep

Are you Ready to Welcome your new Permanent Teeth?

The pre-teens and teens are more concerned about their looks and smile. So a dentist helps in maintaining the adolescent’s healthy teeth. Growing kids require early monitoring of the teeth to prevent periodontal issues and cavities. Consulting a dentist regularly at an interval of six months is ideal for preserving oral hygiene. The pedaitric dentist & the orthodontist guides you about the jaw development and alignment of teeth.

The risk of cavities, tartar formation, gum disease, and malaligned teeth are frequently seen in teenagers. Preventive measures help the child to avoid dental issues in the future.

What are the Most Common Dental Issues in Teenagers?

• The transition of young children undergoes hormonal changes and develops unhealthy habits like eating junk foods and drinking carbonated juices. Limiting sugar and carbohydrate intake is a big challenge for teenagers. Teens should nourish themselves with vitamins, minerals, and proteins from fruits and veggies. A dentist supports you by providing a diet plan for strengthening your teeth.
• Upper front tooth fracture is commonly seen in teens due to sports injuries. So, it is better to wear a mouth guard during the games. It also prevents the tooth from knocking out. Your dentist fabricates a mouth guard according to your jaw. It cushions the teeth and even prevents jaw fractures.
• In teens, the chewing surface of the back teeth has deep grooves. The deep grooves in the molars are more prone to decay. Covering it using sealants helps in preventing cavity formation.
• Most of the permanent teeth will be completely erupted by the age of 13 years. But the wisdom teeth develop between the age of 17 to 21 years. The impacted last molar can bother the teen with infection, caries, and pain. In such cases, surgical extraction is necessary.
• Orthodontic issues are more commonly seen in teenagers than young children. The routine dental appointment helps the dentist track the development of teeth and jaw right from the beginning. The crooked teeth and teeth in abnormal positions can be straightened using aligners or braces. The orthodontist helps in improving your smile and teeth bite.
• Continuous screen time, stress, frequent use of chewing gums, clenching the teeth during the night or improper neck position cause temporomandibular joint problems (TMJ) in teens. It can be managed by the dentist using special appliances.
• Improper brushing techniques in teens induce plaque formation. Periodic scaling in teens removes the debris and calculus. This prevents bleeding in the gums, bad odour, and dental infections.

Should Teens Consult the Dentist Frequently?

Young children, pre-teens, or teens must consult the dentist once every six months. Also, visiting the dentist earlier with parents reduces the anxiety in future appointments. A dental visit is not scary as it seems to be! Your dental visit covers a comprehensive oral examination, cleaning, dietary counselling, and diagnosis with X-rays if necessary. The oral screening techniques and regular follow-ups help in maintaining the oral cavity in good hygeine.