Health, at Gemelli Rome the month of prevention of oral cavity pathologies for children begins

When you return from vacation, homework begins again for parents, not only for the back-to-school duties. Summer is a break of lightness in which oral health is sometimes neglected, but it is also a special time of growth. For this reason, it is essential to plan a preventive check-up at the dentist for children and teenagers in September: a month that Gemelli Dental Center, part of the Denti e Salute Group, dedicates to prevention for the little ones.

Among the most common dental diseases in children are tooth decay, caused by plaque build-up and the habit of drinking sugary drinks; malocclusion (when the upper and lower teeth do not align), a defect that over time can lead to aesthetic problems and inappropriate chewing; plaque build-up and gingivitis; and enamel erosion, often associated with excessive consumption of carbonated drinks.

“During the summer, the increased consumption of sweet foods, the intake of carbonated drinks and perhaps the reduction in oral hygiene, due to long days spent away from home or the many distractions of the holidays, can lead to an increase in tooth decay in baby teeth and permanent teeth. The development of this pathology – explains Roberto Weinstein, scientific director of the Denti e Salute Group – is irreversible and continues over time, leading to the progressive destruction of the tooth. Only a dental visit can intercept the cavities when they are still very small. By intervening early, you can remedy them in a short time, restoring the affected tooth”. But we are not just talking about cavities. “During the summer, the body’s growth processes continue, which also affect the jaw bones. Sometimes – Weinstein points out – their development is not harmonious, consequently the smile and chewing are not optimal. In the case of these developmental problems, it is necessary to intervene as early as possible to correct the defects and correctly direct growth”.

Among the new products proposed – a note reports – a transparent aligner designed with functions specifically studied for the youngest, which is able to treat a wide range of malocclusions during the expansion of the dental arches or misalignments and is the only medical device that grows with the youngest patients, changing their smile through a precise and comfortable process. Furthermore, from autumn 2024 the dental center will launch transparent aligners characterized by smileys or symbols dedicated to the little ones to make using the aligner more fun.

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The WHO has declared 2024 the year of prevention, with an invitation to reflect on the importance of the paradigm shift from cure to care, ‘from Cure to Care’. In recent years, there has been a decline in the number of children and adolescents between 3 and 14 years of age undergoing dental visits – the note reports – This negative trend has led to the development of various pathologies. According to the Istituto Superiore di Sanità based on the latest Istat report, 76% of children up to 5 years of age have never undergone a dental visit. Furthermore, research published in Scientific Report on the incidence of tooth decay in 12-year-old children has revealed how, on this front, Italy is falling behind other European countries, which have improved in recent years thanks to effective prevention policies.

In the absence of visits or early diagnosis, children go to the dentist for the first time as teenagers or young adults, but in this phase they find themselves having to manage pathologies that could have been prevented and treated previously in a less invasive way. In this scenario, the dental center of the Fondazione Policlinico Università Agostino Gemelli Irccs proposes a month dedicated to prevention for the youngest, with days dedicated to children at its clinics. Reservations can be made by calling 06 30156700. More information at the link: https://privato.policlinicogemelli.it/gemelli-dental-center/