T32 Junior

“Orientation & Prevention”
T32 Junior is the paediatric department of T32 Dental Centre, one of the few dental centres in Singapore specially put together with kids in mind.

For adults, visiting the dentist twice a year can be a daunting affair. For children, it is even harder to convince them to get their teeth checked.

T32 Junior’s aim is to ensure that each visit is comforting for every child that enters the clinic. This encourages children to visit the dentist regularly and inculcate good dental habits that they will eventually bring into adulthood.

Dental Trauma

Boys are more prone to trauma as compared to girls. About 30-35% of 5-year-old children would have suffered some form of dental trauma and the trauma tends to involve teeth being knocked loose or out.

Q&A:

1. Question: How often does trauma to teeth occur in children and teenagers?

   Answer

   About 30-35% of 5-year-old children would have suffered some form of dental trauma and the trauma tends to involve teeth being knocked loose or out. About 20-30% of 12-year old children have some form of dental trauma and the children tend to present with fractured teeth.

   Boys are more prone to trauma than girls.

2. Question: At what age would trauma to teeth most likely to occur?

   Answer

   Trauma to primary or "milk" teeth is most likely to occur between 2 - 3 years old when the child starts to walk.

   Trauma to permanent teeth is most likely to occur between 9-10 years old when the child starts to be involved in vigorous playing and sports.

3. Question: What are the steps to take when a child falls and hurt himself/ herself?

   Answer

   1. Check for exterior wounds like cuts and abrasions. Wash these external wounds with plenty of running water.
   2. Stop any bleeding by compressing the injured area with moist gauze or cotton wool for 5-10 minutes.
   3. Seek emergency treatment with dentist or medical doctor if non-dental wounds are suspected.
   4. If there is no emergency, attempts should be made to look for tooth fragments or the whole tooth. If a tooth fragment is found, wash it with water and store it in water. If the whole tooth is found, pick it up by the crown. Wash it under cold running water for only 10 seconds if it is dirty. Reposition into the socket if possible, failing which, the tooth should be stored in milk or in the cheek of the child.

4. Question: When should parents send their child to see a dentist within 24 hours of trauma and when can parents wait for more than 24 hours?

   Answer

   In general, a child should see a medical doctor when he or she suffers a trauma. This is to examine for injuries that has to be managed.

   For dental trauma, the child should be sent to see a dentist immediately, i.e general dentist or child specialist (Pedodontist) or A&E after office hours, when certain clinical scenarios occur.

   Immediate dental care is required when:

   1. Tooth is knocked out of the mouth
   2. When tooth is knocked and is out of position
   3. Tooth is knocked and is very loose
   4. When lips and face is cut with deep wounds

    

   Dental care can be postponed until the next available working day when:

   1. Tooth is not displaced
   2. Tooth is slightly loose with slight bleeding
   3. Mild chipping of tooth (Less than 1/4 of tooth is chipped)

    

5. Question: What dental care can the dentist carry out in cases of trauma?

   Answer

   On first appointment:

   1. Examination
   2. Dental X-rays
   3. Stabilization of teeth or repair of chipped tooth
   4. Placement of medication on tooth
   5. Prescription of medication like pain killers, antibiotics and mouthwash

    

   Subsequent appointments:

   1. 1 week (for patients with replanted teeth)
   2. 3 weeks (For follow-up x-rays)
   3. 6 weeks (For follow-up on tooth and x-rays)
   4. 2 months and 6 months (If necessary)
   5. 1 year (For long-term follow-up on tooth and x-rays)

    

6. Question: What information does your dentist require?

   Answer

   1. When did the injury occur?
   2. Where did the injury occur?
   3. How did the injury occur?
   4. Was there period of fainting?
   5. Have there been previous injuries to teeth? g. Is there a disturbance to bite?