Pediatric Dentistry
Pediatric dentistry is the area of dentistry dedicated to the oral health care of children, from the first months of life to adolescence. The variety of medical contexts over this long period and the emotional factor of the “white coat” make our mini patients very demanding.
Welcome to
This is where the São Dente Kids project came from, to provide the best medical response with the magic needed for a peaceful consultation.
Our team includes doctors with specialized training in orthodontics and pediatric dentistry, with the skills and sensitivity needed to treat children with fear and anxiety, capable of creating an environment of harmony and trust.
Aligners for children
Discover the ideal solution for little ones' smiles!
Transparent aligners can be used specifically in the orthodontic treatment of children from the age of 6, allowing teeth to be aligned and the occlusion pattern to be corrected.
At the same time, they promote all the conditions for the proper development of dental arches
Benefits of orthodontic treatment in children with aligners:
1. practical and comfortable
It adjusts perfectly to the child’s dentition (no brackets or archwires) and is easier to adapt to, without impairing speech or chewing.
2. Simplifies children's oral hygiene
Unlike fixed orthodontic braces, your child’s oral hygiene is easier as they can easily remove the aligner and brush their teeth as normal throughout the day.
3. Minimizes dietary restrictions
With clear aligners, your children have more freedom of choice at mealtimes.
Parents can rest easier because they reduce the risks of eating hard, fibrous or sticky food, as is the case with conventional orthodontic appliances.
4. Requires fewer visits to the doctor
As long as the treatment plan is adhered to, wearing the clear aligners during the stipulated hours, visits to the orthodontist are spaced out over longer intervals of time.
5. Transparent and comfortable
Unlike traditional braces, little ones prefer to wear clear aligners!
These braces make aligning teeth a more fun process.
Time to brush your teeth...
The challenge begins!
Brushing teeth can be a real headache for caregivers!
And if there are techniques to try to make this challenge easier, we can start by simplifying some topics:
When should I start brushing my teeth?
Teeth should be brushed as soon as the first tooth is born, using a fluoridated toothpaste.
How often should I brush my teeth?
Brushing should be done at least twice a day, and the evening brushing must not be missed!
Which brush should I choose?
In the following video, we try to give you some tips on choosing the right toothbrush for your child.
Which folder should I choose?
The world of toothpastes can also be quite confusing. Generally speaking, for children with baby teeth (up to the age of 6) you should choose a paste with 950/1000 ppm fluoride and for children with permanent teeth (usually from the age of 6) a paste with 1400-1500ppm fluoride. Discover other factors to take into account in the following video.
Book your appointment now
Dr. Mariana Rebelo
Dentist with postgraduate training at the following institutions:
Dr. Beatiz Vaz Duarte
Dentist with postgraduate training at the following institutions:
Would you like more information or to make an appointment?
Don’t hesitate to contact us. Our extensively trained and highly specialized team will be happy to explain the whole process to you in detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I make my baby's first appointment?
It is recommended that the first appointment takes place after the birth of the first tooth or within the first year of life.
You might wonder why so soon. At this stage, it is possible to make a very early diagnosis and limit the consequences of existing problems.
Did you know that tooth decay is the most prevalent childhood disease? It is therefore imperative to establish oral hygiene habits from an early age and carry out early diagnosis to limit the need for dental treatment and enable minimally invasive options when they are necessary.
What to expect at the first appointment?
Regardless of the child’s age, the first consultation is a key piece of information. Informed caregivers will make better decisions when it comes to determining the habits of the children who will be the adults of the future.
It’s at the first appointment (and all the others, really!) that the magic happens when we allow the child to explore the dentist’s office, meet the doctor who will be accompanying them and let their imagination run wild so that their knowledge of the instruments, the make-believe stories and even the much-loved cartoons make them forget that it’s a doctor’s appointment.
In the middle of the animation, and after a careful medical history, a clinical observation is made to assess the various structures of the oral cavity and understand if everything is developing correctly; diagnose dental problems that require intervention and establish an early and minimally invasive treatment plan.
Next, and depending on the child’s age, dental prophylaxis is carried out with fluoride application, whenever indicated.
Sometimes it is necessary to carry out additional diagnostic tests, such as dental X-rays, or to refer the patient to different specialties for proper follow-up, such as orthodontics or speech therapy.
Milk teeth... Permanent teeth... What a mess!
In such a small mouth, there are so many changes happening. Sometimes it’s not easy to keep up with everything that’s changing! You should know that the first teeth appear at around 6 months. Don’t be worried if your baby isn’t up to standard, because all children are different and the state of tooth eruption will be assessed at the appointment. The milk (or deciduous) dentition will be complete by the age of 2/3 with 20 teeth!
Later, around the age of 6, the first permanent teeth appear. The permanent dentition will be complete by the age of 12, with 28 teeth (not counting the famous wisdom teeth).
Why treat baby teeth? Won't they fall?
This thinking is wrong, but unfortunately it’s common. Milk teeth with caries lesions can cause pain and infection, just like a permanent tooth. In addition, decay in a baby tooth can affect a permanent tooth and damage the permanent dentition.
Failure to treat milk teeth leads to their early loss, which has consequences for the child’s development, as these teeth have an impact on chewing, speech and the eruption of permanent teeth.
The scientific evidence is clear on the benefits of early preventive intervention. Children with strict oral hygiene habits and no teeth in need of treatment will be adults who are less likely to develop oral diseases. And in fact, there is no general health without oral health!
