Are healthy baby teeth important?
It is very important to maintain the health of primary teeth. Primary, or “baby,” teeth are important for many reasons. Not only do they help children speak clearly and chew naturally, maintain the space for when the permanent successor tooth erupts and also permitting normal development of the jaws and muscles.
Children start losing baby teeth from the age of 6 years, but the primary molars are not lost until 10-12 years of age. If a cavity is not filled, this can lead to pain, infection of the gums and jaws, impairment of general health and premature loss/extraction of teeth. This in turn can lead to space loss and perhaps create orthodontic problems in the future.
It has also been shown that early extraction of primary teeth can lead to the development of dental anxiety.
Clonmel Children’s Dental Clinic is the dental practice of Dr. Eimear Norton. We provide specialized dentistry for children and adolescents in a child-friendly environment.