Brush up on how to care for your child’s teeth

April 12, 2011 - PRLog -- In a recent report published in the official journal of the Faculty of Dental Surgery, a well-respected professor of children's dentistry commented that in some cases serious tooth decay in children as young as two is either being missed or not treated correctly because it is not being caught in time. The report found that some young children are suffering pain, facial infections and blood poisoning because their baby teeth are being left untreated, with several undergoing the trauma of having teeth extracted because many dentists wrongly think primary or ‘milk’ teeth are not worth repairing.

One award-winning Somerset-based dental practice, Dentistry by Paula Richardson, is helping to bring sound dental advice to parents, from baby-teeth to braces. Based in Ilchester, Paula Richardson is one of very few UK dentists who can offer a holistic approach to children’s oral health.

“It is important to learn good dental care habits from a young age,” says Paula. “We encourage parents to bring their children to see us as early as the first tooth appears. This also helps the children to get used to the dental environment.

“We recommend that parents assist all children up to around nine years of age with daily flossing and brushing. Scientific research shows that even in children, flossing greatly reduces the risk of decay starting between teeth. By the time holes are visibly detectable in milk teeth the decay has usually reached the nerve making more extensive treatment necessary. We also advise preventive techniques such as fissure sealing permanent molars as they erupt into the mouth.”

In addition to the widely known orthodontic treatments that she offers, Paula is also highly experienced in early interceptive orthopaedics – an area that many parents are not familiar with. Orthopaedics aims to guide the growth of the jaws while the child is young and developing. It can help to reduce the extent of orthodontic treatment that might be required later and in many cases reduces the risk of extractions being required to make space for other teeth.

Dentistry by Paula Richardson was awarded ‘Best Practice in the South West & Wales’ at the prestigious Dentistry Awards in December 2010. One of the reasons Dentistry by Paula Richardson stands out is the practice’s ability to provide a unique experience, extending beyond the traditional care of teeth and gums.

Paula Richardson has many years of experience in cosmetic dentistry and she has achieved the Masters Level from the Aesthetic Advantage Continuum of New York – very few dentists in the UK have achieved this. Besides occlusal and cosmetic treatment, implants; gum therapy; standard and invisible braces (Invisalign); and snoring and sleep disorders.

Paula is a member of the British Dental Association, British Academy of Cosmetic Dentists, the British Society of Occlusal Studies, the British Society for the Study of Craniomandibular Disorders and she is closely associated with the Clinical Foundation of Orthopaedics and Orthodontics of the United Kingdom. To find out more or book an appointment, visit www.dentistrybypaula.co.uk or call 01935 840784.

# # #

An award-winning practice, Dentistry by Paula Richardson was founded in 2000 and is based in Ilchester, Somerset.

Dr Paula Richardson and her team are proud to offer patients some of the finest dental services in the South West. Treatments include: comprehensive initial examinations; periodontal (gum) therapy; implants; restorative treatment (crowns, bridges, fillings, etc.); treatments for headaches and other pain related to the jaw joints; occlusal (the way we bite) treatment; oral surgery; orthodontics (both invisible and standard braces) and functional orthopaedics; hygiene and preventative treatments; as well as all other treatments associated with general dentistry.

The most important part of their focus is to promote good dental health, which also has an impact on an individual’s general wellbeing. For those who desire cosmetic enhancements, they offer these as well. The clinic also has an interest in facial aesthetics, administering Botox and Juvederm fillers.