Dental Caries
Tooth Decay begins when the protein of your saliva combines with the sugars and carbohydrates of food particles left on and between your teeth. This combination creates plaque, which eats away at the hard enamel shell around your tooth. Left unchecked, a hole will be created in the enamel and a cavity will rapidly form in the softer dentin which lies under the enamel. If the cavity is caught in time, usually a filling will correct the problem. Larger cavities may require a Crown. However, if nothing is done and the decay spreads, the sensitive pulp (nerve) may become involved, often causing an abscess or an extraction may be necessary.
Thumb Sucking
Children suck on things because sucking is one of a baby's natural instincts. Sucking makes them feel secure and content. Prolonged thumbsucking (or pacifier sucking) interferes with the proper growth of the mouth and the alignment of the teeth. This improper development, if not corrected, will change the appearance of the child's face.
Baby Bottle Decay
Baby Bottle Syndrome is the rapid decay of baby teeth in an infant or child from frequent exposure, for long periods of time, to liquids containing sugars. The upper front teeth are most commonly affected.
The problem is usually caused by a baby falling asleep while nursing a bottle or while breast feeding. While the child is asleep, the sugary liquid pools around the front teeth. The bacteria living in every baby’s mouth then turns the sugars to acid which causes decay.
Abscess
A periapical abscess is a pocket of infection at the base of a tooth's root. The tooth becomes abscessed after the pulp (nerve) of the tooth becomes infected. A periapical abscess is usually caused by deep decay or an accident (trauma to the tooth involving nerve damage). An abscessed tooth will require an extraction. In some cases an antibiotic will also be prescribed.
Ankylosis
Tooth ankylosis is the fusion of the tooth to the bone, preventing the tooth from erupting. This can happen in both primary ("baby") teeth and permanent teeth, and may occur at any stage during development or eruption.
Bruxism
Grinding of teeth, also known as Bruxism, occurs in children as well as adults. Children often grind their teeth when their teeth are erupting. This is not uncommon, nor is it a problem if it is mild. However, more severe cases can lead to a malocclusion. Malocclusion generally leads to a need for Orthodontics or the child can develop TMJ problems.
Gingivitis
Gingivitis (gum disease) is an infection of the teeth, gums and the bone that surrounds the teeth. Often gingivitis starts when plaque and tarter not removed regularly through brushing and flossing. The bacteria in the plaque leads to an infection in the gums (gingiva) called Gingivitis. Left untreated, the infection spreads to the tissue and bone that holds your teeth in place, a condition called periodontitis.
Impacted tooth
Impacted teeth are unerupted or partially erupted teeth that cannot fully erupt due to:
Lack of space (crowding)
Misalignment (tooth is rotated out of position)
Conflicting position (another tooth has erupted over that position)
Ankylosis
When other causes of impaction are not corrected in a timely manner, the roots of the impacted tooth can fuse to the surrounding bone creating a tooth frozen in an unerupted or partially erupted state.
Hyperdontia
Supernumerary teeth, also known as having an extra tooth, is a condition where more than normal number of teeth are present.
Hypoplasia
Enamel hypoplasia is an enamel defect that results in a tooth having less than the normal amount of enamel. The missing enamel is usually localized, which results in small dents, grooves or pits on the outer surface of the affected tooth. This makes the tooth’s surface very rough, and the defects often stand out because they are brown or yellow in color.
