The start at the paediatric dentist
A good start at the dentist is crucial for the long-term health of your teeth. At our practice in Biel, we are committed to Gentle, child-orientated care particularly close to our hearts. We take time for our youngest patients - and playfully teach them that a visit to the dentist doesn't have to be something to be afraid of.
Prophylaxis - prevention of diseases in children
Good and regular oral hygiene is crucial for the prevention of tooth decay. Children should watch their parents brush their teeth so that they realise that brushing is normal. We recommend starting to brush from the time the first milk tooth erupts, ideally 2-3 times a day. Due to their smaller size, a children's toothbrush with soft bristles (soft toothbrush) and a children's toothpaste are best suited. As children often do not co-operate enough, an electric toothbrush can make the parents' job easier. From the age of 6, you can switch to a junior toothpaste and ideally clean once a week with a concentrated fluoride gel, e.g. Elmex gelée.
Sugar is the main foodstuff that leads to tooth decay. The frequency of sugary products (e.g. chocolate, honey, syrup, sweet drinks) plays a decisive role here. The more often sugary products are consumed, the higher the risk of tooth decay.
Dental hygiene for children and tooth brushing school
Professional teeth cleaning as part of a dental hygiene session is just as necessary for children as it is for adults in order to remove plaque and tartar. Children also benefit from our tooth brushing school, where we show and explain things in an age-appropriate way:
- How to brush teeth properly, including colouring the plaque
- Why brushing your teeth is important
- Which foods damage the teeth
Our dental hygienists are used to dealing with children and can respond to your child with patience and empathy.
Through regular dental hygiene sessions, children develop their own awareness of healthy teeth at an early age - and take responsibility for their oral hygiene
Children & dental anxiety - Not with us
Especially with children, the first impression is crucial. We organise every treatment calmly and sensitively. Our aim is for your child to go home with a good feeling - and to be happy to come back. Treatment that is as anxiety-free as possible is the cornerstone of long-term dental health.
This is because if a child develops a great fear of the dentist at an early age, this can develop into a dental phobia, and visits to the dentist and dental hygiene are avoided, which means that diseases such as caries and periodontitis are not recognised at an early stage and irreparable damage can occur. A gentle introduction to dentistry is therefore of great importance for the child.
Treatments are only carried out when the child feels safe. Coercion and pressure have no place in modern paediatric dentistry.
Treatment procedure and treatment options
If treatment, such as a dental filling, is necessary for your child, sensitivity is required.
Even in the waiting room, our youngest patients can expect a child-friendly atmosphere with toys, colourful crayons and children's books so that they feel as familiar as possible with the surroundings.
To alleviate the fear of visiting the dentist or to prevent it from arising in the first place, we attach great importance to explaining the treatment to the child in a playful way through skilful dialogue. For example, we call the „injections“ „sleeping drops“. During the treatment, the child is deliberately distracted by a television on the ceiling and headphones, for example when cartoons are played. With targeted distraction, imaginative explanations and a little patience, many children can be successfully treated.
However, despite all our efforts and patience, it can still be difficult to treat a child. We have the possibility and specialisation to use light and mild sedatives.
Light sedation with nitrous oxide
The child remains fully conscious and the nitrous oxide has an anxiolytic and calming effect. As soon as the nitrous oxide is no longer inhaled, the child regains full consciousness and can orientate itself fully.
Medium sedation
The active ingredient midazolam (Dormicum) achieves a somewhat deeper sedation than nitrous oxide. The child becomes drowsy but remains fully conscious. However, a certain degree of co-operation is also required for sedation with Dormicum.
General anaesthesia
Thanks to Dr Pirracchio's regular surgical activity as an attending physician at the Biel Hospital Centre, we are able to offer general anaesthesia for children who do not cooperate with us. At the Biel Hospital Centre, children are treated by experienced and specialised paediatric anaesthetists from the paediatric department (Wildermeth Children's Clinic).
This fact offers several advantages over mobile anaesthesia teams:
- Specialist paediatric anaesthetists at the Biel Hospital Centre have considerably more experience in anaesthetising children and are equipped with special infrastructure. Your child is therefore in the best hands.
- In dental emergencies, we can quickly organise an appointment under general anaesthetic.
- General anaesthesia at the Biel Hospital Centre is around a third cheaper than with mobile anaesthesia teams
