Most children don’t loose all their baby teeth until they are about 12-13 years old. Adult teeth are in the mouth long before all the baby teeth are lost. Decay can spread from the baby teeth to the adult teeth. Children who have problems with baby teeth are far more likely to also have problems with the adult teeth, especially if the baby teeth are not treated early. Teeth are important to y0our child’s speech, nutrition, and social well-being.

It is very important to maintain the baby teeth because these teeth hold space for the future eruption of the permanent teeth. If a baby tooth decays or is removed too early, the space necessary for the permanent teeth is lost and can only be regained through orthodontic treatment. Infected baby teeth can cause the permanent teeth to develop improperly resulting in stains, pits and weaker teeth.

Primary, or "baby," teeth are important for many reasons. Not only do they help children speak clearly and chew naturally, they also aid in forming a path that permanent teeth can follow when they are ready to erupt.

No, in fact, it is very common in the beginning to nod out while listening. We are taking you into a delta brain wave pattern, that of sleep, and your brain is also making a lot of very relaxing neurochemicals, including endorphins. The combination can make you fall asleep. As the brain reorganizes you will gain the ability to remain alert throughout. So falling asleep is really one of many signs that the brain is really being pushed.

Baby teeth serve the important function of eating, speech, and esthetics (self image). These teeth not only help form the developing jaws, but they hold space for the permanent teeth so that a normal bite occurs. The last baby tooth falls out at about twelve years of age. A decayed baby tooth can become so badly decayed that it can do damage to the permanent tooth. At times severe infections of the face, head, and neck can be caused by infected baby teeth.

Unless a baby tooth will fall out in the next several months, it is generally unwise to leave decay on baby teeth. Decay can easily move to other baby teeth or even to permanent teeth. It can also cause pain, and possibly lead to facial infections, and expensive orthodontic problems that could have been avoided. We recommend carefully restoring all decayed teeth to optimal health.

Primary teeth, or baby teeth last approximately 1/7th of a lifetime. Cavities in primary teeth can cause toothaches and infections, just as they do in adults. Moreover, an infection in the baby tooth can result in damage to the underlying permanent tooth. If a primary tooth is lost prematurely, the back teeth may move forward into the empty space and block out the unerupted permanent tooth creating an impaction and an orthodontic problem.

It is very important to maintain the baby teeth because these teeth hold space for the future eruption of the permanent teeth. If a baby tooth decays or is removed too early, the space necessary for the permanent teeth is lost and can only be regained through orthodontic treatment. Infected baby teeth can cause the permanent teeth to develop improperly resulting in stains, pits and weaker teeth.

Very possibly, unless the cause can be determined and proper preventive and corrective steps are taken.

Yes, we are looking for varied insights into you as an individual and your accomplishments at each stage of your career. One letter should be provided by your current department head or whoever serves as your supervisor. One letter should be provided by your postdoc mentor or someone else who knew you and your work during that period of your career.

Yes. "Capped teeth" (crowns) can be treated with Anti Infective Periodontal Therapy just like natural teeth if they have periodontal problems. If the problem is caries (decay), the crown may need to be removed and/or remade after removing the carious lesion under the crown. The major cause of adult tooth loss, whether natural or artificial (including crowns and implants), is periodontal disease. In natural teeth, it's called periodontitis (Latin for an inflammation around the tooth).

Decay happens when sugars in food and drinks react with the bacteria in plaque, forming acids. Every time you eat or drink anything containing sugars, the bacteria reacts with it to form acid. These acids attack the teeth and start to dissolve the enamel. The attacks can last for an hour after eating or drinking, before the natural salts in your saliva cause the enamel to ‘remineralise’ and harden again.

Baby bottle tooth decay is caused by the frequent and long-term exposure of a child's teeth to liquids containing sugars. Among these liquids are milk, formula, fruit juice, sodas and other sweetened drinks. The sugars in these liquids pool around the infant's teeth and gums, feeding the bacteria in plaque. Every time a child consumes a sugary liquid, acid produced by these bacteria attack the teeth and gums. After numerous attacks, tooth decay can begin.

No. Although all states require a newborn screening test be performed on babies born in their state, each state determines which disorders will be screened. The newborn screening test is capable of screening for more than 50 disorders, yet most states screen for fewer than that. For example, if your child was born in the state of California in 2004 , your baby was screened for 4 disorders.

A toothbrush will remove plaque bacteria that can lead to decay. Any soft-bristled toothbrush with a small head, preferably one designed specifically for infants, should be used at least once a day at bedtime.

There are many factors which influence the susceptibility of teeth to decay. Some of these factors may be inherited (shape of teeth), others may be influenced by environment (fluoride) or behaviour (brushing). Clean teeth do not decay. Although some people are more immune to decay than others, with good dental care cavities can be prevented. If you have a lot of fillings or even dentures your child can still grow up with healthy teeth.

A soft bristled, small headed toothbrush should be used at least once per day before bedtime. Toothpaste is not necessary for children under 3 years old. The main goal is to remove food residue from your child's teeth. » Return to Top

Some children can be comforted by chewing on a teething biscuit, a piece of toast, or a frozen teething ring. Teething medications can also be applied to the gums to reduce discomfort and are available at your pharmacy. A child may also benefit from occasional use of infant Tylenol or another pain reliever. » Return to Top

Your diet during the nine months of pregnancy directly impacts the development of your baby -- including teeth. Because your baby's teeth begin to develop during the second trimester of pregnancy, it is important that you receive recommended amounts of calcium, protein, phosphorous, and vitamins A, C, and D. Consult your physician and dentist for information about proper diet nutrient levels during your pregnancy. [TOP]

Baby teeth help children to eat well, to look nice and to learn how to speak clearly. They also save a space for the adult teeth that are developing under the gums. Keeping baby teeth healthy is important because some of these teeth may remain in the mouth until the age of 12 or 13! If teeth are not properly cared for, tooth decay may develop. Tooth decay is progressive and cavities get bigger when untreated.

Primary (or baby) teeth act as natural spaces for the permanent teeth. If lost prematurely, the other baby teeth drift into spaces and block the erupting permanent tooth out. The presence of primary tooth also allows for the underlying permanent tooth to develop at a normal rate

Baby bottle tooth decay is the creation of many cavities on your baby's teeth so that only the "stumps" of the teeth can be seen. This condition can occur after only a few weeks of putting your baby to sleep with milk or juice in his or her baby bottle. Because your baby's tooth enamel (the hard outer "shell" of a tooth) is fairly soft, your baby is very vulnerable to tooth decay. Often, there is so much tooth decay that your baby's teeth cannot be restored.