If you like to keep abreast of the news or you have a specific interest in health news, you may have seen a recent article about waiting lists for children’s dental care in Ireland. Since the HSE announced significant cuts in the dental budget, the Irish Dental Association has warned that children are missing out on the care they need, with some forced to wait for up to three years for treatment. Dental experts have warned politicians that cutting back now will increase costs in the future, as well as leading to a decline in standards of oral health. At Dublin18 Dental Care we firmly believe that prevention is better than cure and we feel very strongly that children’s oral health should be a priority.

Why is children’s dental health so important?

It’s easy to assume that oral health is not important for children because their first set of teeth are supposed to fall out, but the fact is that oral health is extremely important for children. Problems such as decay, cavities and gum disease cause children unnecessary pain and children with dental problems may experience difficulty at school. If they are in pain, it may be hard for them to concentrate and if they lose teeth early or they have damaged or decayed teeth, this may affect their confidence.

The milk teeth are supposed to fall out, but if they drop out prematurely or they have to be extracted early as a result of decay, this often causes problems in later life, such as poor tooth alignment, which may require orthodontic treatment.

At Dublin18 Dental Care we aim to promote good oral health from an early age and encourage parents and children to visit on a regular basis for a quick check-up. It is helpful for children to get used to going to the dentist as early as possible, not just for their health, but also so that they get used to having regular check-ups.

If you have any questions about your child’s oral health or you would like to find out more about children’s dentistry at Dublin18 Dental Care near Foxrock, please do not hesitate to contact us!