Everyone does the treatment they specialize in.

Specialist Dentist Aycan Dal graduated from Hacettepe University, Faculty of Dentistry in 2014. In 2015, she passed the specialty exam in dentistry, and started her specialty training at Gazi University, Department of Pedodontics (Pediatric Dentistry). In 2019, she completed her specialty training by submitting her thesis on oral health of pregnant mothers and newborns. 

Her scientific studies on “Diagnosis and treatment of acute periodontal diseases in children”;

“Awareness of neonatalogists and anesthesiologists regarding oral complications of intubation”;

“Treatment of invaginated canal with MTA and vital pulp: Type III dens invaginatus” were published in different international dentistry journals. 

Specialist Dentist Aycan Dal currently serves as a pedodontist (pediatric dentist) at Dentforum Oral and Dental Health Hospital.
 

WHAT IS PEDODONTICS?

Pedodonti, a Latin word, means “children’s teeth". In dentistry, pedodontics is a department, which aims at maintaining primary and permanent teeth in a healthy way, and eliminating the problems in these teeth, caused by decays, trauma, and hereditary and similar factors in the period from birth to the age of 12-13, when all primary teeth of the child are replaced by new ones. It is aimed to observe the development of children's maxillofacial area from babyhood, prevent tooth eruption disorders, treat tooth decays, as well as irreversible tooth losses and tooth alignment disorders. 
Making sure that the one who will perform your child's dental treatments is a specialist pedodontist is an important step to make your child a more cooperative individual who is more aware of dental health, by preventing him/her from having fear of dentists in the future. The preventive, therapeutic and protective practices that pedodontists apply in accordance with the oral and dental health requirements of infants, children and young people during this period are as follows: 

# Recommendations about oral dental care and nutrition

# Anti-tooth decay applications (Fluorid gel, fluoride varnish, fissure sealant)

# Treatments intended for preventing bad oral habits (Finger sucking, Lip biting, Nail biting, etc.)

# Restorative treatments (Filling)

# Tooth extraction

# Space maintainers (Fixed or Removable)

# Endodontic treatments (Root Canal treatment, Amputation, indirect pulp capping)

# Children’s prostheses

# Treatment of traumatic dental injuries
 

WHY ARE PRIMARY TEETH IMPORTANT?

Although primary teeth are of great importance, parents and children neglect their maintenance, thinking that they will fall out and new ones will erupt from underneath the resultant holes. Primary teeth support the development of the jawbone and muscles. If they are extracted prematurely and if their locations cannot be maintained, the consequence will be crookedness in the teeth and development problems in the jaw. Primary teeth should be tried to be kept in the mouth until they reach the age of falling, in order to ensure proper nutrition of the child and healthy eruption of the underlying permanent teeth.
 

WHEN DOES THE ERUPTION OF PRIMARY TEETH START AND WHEN IS IT COMPLETED?

Primary teeth first begin to erupt between 6th and 12th months, and all primary teeth take their place at the end of about 24th-30th months. After the completion of the eruption of the primary teeth, a total of 20 teeth must be available in the mouth of child, as 10 in the upper and 10 in the lower jaws.

WHEN DOES THE ERUPTION OF PERMANENT TEETH START AND WHEN IS IT COMPLETED?

Permanent teeth begin to erupt at about the age of 6 after the loss of primary teeth, and this process continues even after adulthood is reached, until the eruption of wisdom teeth. Primary teeth swing and fall out at certain time intervals, starting from front to back with their general course. The point to take into consideration in this regard:  Not every permanent tooth comes from underneath a primary tooth. Large teeth called molar teeth are directly erupt into the oral cavity, and they do not have a primary tooth on them. First large molars erupt at 6 years of age, second large molars at 12 years of age, and third large molars (wisdom teeth) at 20 years of age, directly and without loss of primary teeth. 

WHEN SHOULD WE START TO BRUSH CHILDREN’S TEETH?

With the eruption of the first primary tooth, oral care should be started. In this process, the mother should clean the teeth and gums of her baby every morning after breakfast and also every evening before going to bed, by using a clean, wet cheesecloth, gauze patch, special cleaning wipes or finger brushes; and after the eruption of the cheek teeth, she should routinely clean the teeth using a toothbrush. The mother needs to maintain her assistance until the child’s hand coordination develops (for example, until he/she become able to tie his/her own shoes), i.e., until the child turns 7-8. Completely handing over the task of brushing to children under 8 years of age makes tooth decays inevitable.
 

WHAT DOES FLUORINE APPLICATION DO?

Fluorine is an element that strengthens tooth structure and prevents decays. Since tooth enamel is not fully matured at the time of the first eruption of the teeth, newly erupted teeth are usually less resistant to decays. Therefore, they are also prone to decay formation. Fluorine protects teeth against acid attacks and prevents decay formation by strengthening tooth enamel. Professional superficial fluorine application is a preventive procedure that can only be performed by dentists. It should be routinely performed once every 6 months.
 

IN WHAT CONDITIONS IS SEDATION AND GENERAL ANESTHESIA ARE APPLIED TO CHILDREN? 
Dental treatments of child patients, who cannot be cooperative, can be easily performed at a time under sedation and under general anesthesia without stressing the child. Patients treated under sedation or general anesthesia can be classified as follows:
 

# Children with physical disabilities

# Children with mental disabilities

# Uncooperative children who need urgent treatment but cannot be contacted

# Young children who have very common tooth decays or who need surgical interventions

# Children with systemic diseases, whose medical risks can be reduced with general anesthesia (e.g. heart disease, etc.) 

# Children whose treatment has to be completed in one session for any reason (e.g. allergic reactions, risk of diseases that would affect their health, place of residence away from medical assistance, etc.) 
 

HOW IS GENERAL ANESTHESIA APPLIED?

The child, for whom general anesthesia is planned, is examined by the anesthesiologist at least 1 day before the operation to see if there is any condition unfavorable for receiving anesthesia. The next day, the child is brought to the hospital after having a fasting period of 6-8 hours. If the child is stressed and uneasy, a sedative mixed with fruit juice is given to the child one hour before general anesthesia, in order to enable him/her to calm down. Due to the effects of the drug, the patient is taken to the operating room when he/she is a little bit sleepy. In this way, the child does not feel his/her separation from the parents, and does not remember it after the operation. The pedodontist completes all the dental treatment procedures within 1-2 hours, while the patient is under general anesthesia. Duration of treatment varies depending on the required procedures and the number of teeth to be treated. After the procedure, the child is allowed to get rest for 1-2 hours in a room, until he/she comes out of anesthesia under the supervision of the parents, and then he/she is allowed to go home. School-age children can easily go to school the next day.