A Treatment of decay is the same whether it is for milk teeth or permanent Fillings, Root canal treatment & crowns. For milk teeth readymade crowns are also available. If the child is unable to co-operate for treatment, it is better to get the child treated under general anaesthesia rather than lose the advantages of treatment.

A. Although it is true that all milk teeth are replaced by permanent teeth, this must happen at the ‘right age’. There is an appropriate time for each milk tooth to fall & the permanent successor to take it’s place. If the milk tooth is lost, for any reason, much earlier than the scheduled time of eruption of the permanent successor, then it is very likely that the space created by loss of the milk tooth would reduce or even close because of drifting of the adjacent teeth & when the time for the permanent tooth to erupt comes, it has no place, so either it gets locked within the jaw or erupts in an abnormal position. So, as a broad guideline, by following conservative treatment procedures, all attempts should be made to avoid removal of primary (m) Incisors below the age of 4 years and other milk teeth below the age of 9 years Should such early removal of teeth becomes necessary, an appliance called the “Space Maintainer should be given to the child to wear.

A. There is no foolproof method preventing tooth decay. But it can be kept under control and its ill effects minimized by cleaning of teeth, reducing frequency of sugar consumption, proper diet, regular check-up by regular the dentist, treatment whenever necessary & application of fluorides

A. Thumb-sucking, mouth breathing, tongue- thrusting and such habits do not affect the positions of teeth if they are discontinued by the age of 5 years. Such habits can be due to variety of reasons – including psychological Attempts must be made to pin-point the cause & treat it to discontinue the habit. If such attempts fail or do not reveal any particular cause, certain ‘Habit – breaking Appliances can be constructed, to be worn by the child to get rid of the habit.

A. The first visit should not wait till a tooth start paining. It should be at the age of 2.5 years and then for 6 monthly check-ups.

A. The child should be examined by a dentist after the injury as soon as possible – within hours. Whether the tooth break, shakes or not, it may require treatment immediately or after observation for some months. Such teeth have to be examined by the dentist at periodic intervals for upto 2 years after the injury. If the tooth falls out due to the injury, wash it and try to place it back. If this is not possible immerse it in milk & if milk is not available, in water & take it to the dentist immediately-reporting within 2 hours of the injury is very useful.

A. In some children like other milestones, eruption of the teeth may be delayed. It is wise to consult a dentist if this happens. He may advise an X-ray to confirm that the tooth is present & to locate it in the jaw after seeing the position in the jaw he may advise some treatment like a small cut in the gum or just ‘wait & watch’. Very rarely the tooth may be congenitally absent.