What is kids' dentistry?
Kids' dentistry — paediatric dentistry — is dental care shaped around growing children, from the first baby tooth through to the last permanent one. It covers checkups, cleaning, fluoride, protective sealants, fillings, treatment for infected baby teeth, habit guidance and early monitoring of how the jaws and teeth are developing.
But the most valuable thing it does is not clinical at all. A child who has calm, friendly early dental visits becomes an adult who books checkups without dread. A child whose first experience is an emergency with pain often carries that anxiety for decades. At Mera Dental Clinic in Delhi, we take that seriously — first visits are unhurried, gentle and often involve nothing more than a ride in the chair and a count of the teeth.
When should a child first see a dentist?
The recommendation is by the first birthday, or within six months of the first tooth appearing — far earlier than most families expect. That first visit is not about treatment. It is about:
- Checking that teeth and jaws are developing normally.
- Showing parents how to clean a baby's teeth properly.
- Discussing bottle use, night feeding, dummies and thumb-sucking.
- Advice on fluoride and diet.
- Letting your child meet a dentist while nothing hurts.
After that, every six months — the same as adults, and more often if your child is prone to decay.
Why baby teeth matter
"They are going to fall out anyway" is the most costly misconception in children's dentistry. Baby teeth do far more than chew:
- They hold space for the permanent teeth underneath. Lose one early and neighbouring teeth drift into the gap, crowding out the adult tooth and often making braces necessary later.
- They guide speech development. Missing front teeth affect how certain sounds are formed.
- They allow proper nutrition. A child with toothache eats poorly and sleeps badly.
- Infection spreads. An abscess on a baby tooth sits directly above the developing permanent tooth and can damage it.
- They matter socially. Children are self-conscious about visibly decayed or missing front teeth earlier than adults realise.
The last baby molars are not replaced until around age eleven or twelve. A tooth that decays at five has another six or seven years of work to do. It is well worth saving.
What we do for children
Checkups and cleaning
Short, gentle examinations of teeth, gums and bite, with a light professional clean to remove plaque and staining. We talk children through everything using words that do not frighten them — no needles, no drills, no scary vocabulary.
Fluoride application
A quick varnish or gel painted onto the teeth, strengthening enamel and reversing very early decay before it becomes a hole. Takes a minute or two, tastes fine, and is one of the most evidence-backed preventive measures in dentistry.
Pit and fissure sealants
Permanent molars arrive around age six with deep grooves that a toothbrush bristle physically cannot enter — which is why most childhood cavities happen there. A sealant is a thin protective coating flowed into those grooves and set with a light. It is painless, needs no drilling and no injection, and dramatically reduces decay in the teeth your child will keep for life.
Fillings for children
Cavities in baby teeth are repaired with tooth-coloured or fluoride-releasing materials. See our fillings page for how the process works — with children we simply go more slowly and explain more.
Pulp treatment (pulpotomy) and crowns
When decay reaches the nerve of a baby tooth, the infected pulp is treated and the tooth is protected with a small crown, so it can stay in place until it is naturally ready to fall out. It saves the space and prevents infection reaching the permanent tooth below.
Extractions when unavoidable
Occasionally a baby tooth is too damaged to save, or one is retained and blocking an adult tooth. It is removed gently under local anaesthesia, and where needed we fit a space maintainer to hold the gap open for the permanent tooth. More on extractions.
Habit counselling
Thumb-sucking, prolonged bottle or dummy use, tongue thrusting and mouth breathing all affect how jaws and teeth grow. Addressed early, they are usually straightforward to correct — and doing so can avoid far more complex orthodontic treatment later.
Early orthodontic assessment
Around age seven, the mix of baby and adult teeth reveals a great deal about how the bite is developing. Crossbites, severe crowding, jaw size discrepancies and habits are best spotted then, while growth can still be guided. Our consultant orthodontist Dr. Abrar handles these assessments — see braces and aligners.
Dental injuries
Chipped, displaced or knocked-out teeth are common in active children. If a permanent tooth is knocked out, keep it in milk, do not scrub it, and get to us immediately — quick action can sometimes save the tooth.
Why children get cavities, and how to prevent them
Tooth decay is one of the most common chronic conditions of childhood, and almost entirely preventable. The main drivers:
- Frequency of sugar, not quantity. Constant snacking, juice in a sipper cup, sweet biscuits between meals — each exposure restarts the acid attack.
- Bottles or sweetened milk at bedtime. Saliva flow drops during sleep, leaving sugar pooled against the front teeth. This causes a distinctive pattern of early childhood decay.
- Brushing left to children too early. Children lack the manual dexterity to brush properly until around age seven or eight.
- Deep grooves in new molars — solved by sealants.
- Hidden sugars in flavoured milk, cereals, ketchup, packaged juices and "health" drinks.
Practical prevention at home
- Start cleaning before the first tooth — wipe the gums with a clean damp cloth after feeds.
- Brush twice daily as soon as the first tooth appears: a smear of fluoride toothpaste under three years, a pea-sized amount from three upward.
- Supervise and re-brush until at least age seven or eight. Let them go first, then you finish the job.
- No bottle in bed containing anything except water.
- Keep sweets to mealtimes rather than spread through the day.
- Water between meals, not juice or soft drinks.
- Start flossing once any two teeth touch.
- Six-monthly checkups with fluoride and sealants where advised.
Helping an anxious child
Most dental fear in children is learned rather than experienced. A few things genuinely help:
- Avoid loaded words at home — "pain", "injection", "drill", "it won't hurt". Children hear the frightening word, not the reassurance. Say "the dentist will count your teeth".
- Never use the dentist as a threat for not brushing.
- Do not share your own bad experiences in front of them.
- Book early in the day, when children are rested and cooperative.
- Come for a "meet and greet" first — a visit with no treatment at all is perfectly fine with us.
- Let us do the explaining. We use tell-show-do: explain in child-friendly language, demonstrate on a finger or a model, then treat.
We work at the child's pace, praise generously, and never restrain or force a frightened child. Sometimes the win of a first appointment is simply that they sat in the chair and left smiling.
Cost of children's dental treatment
Children's checkups, cleaning, fluoride and sealants are among the most affordable treatments we offer — and by a wide margin cheaper than treating the decay they prevent. Your first consultation and X-ray are free, and we give you the full cost of any treatment before starting. Call +91 98912 42043 for current pricing.
Why families choose Mera Dental
- A calm, unhurried approach — we do not rush children, and we do not force treatment.
- Prevention first — fluoride, sealants and honest dietary advice before drilling.
- Specialists on site for gum care, orthodontics and complex treatment, so nothing gets referred away.
- Strict sterilisation — autoclaved instruments and single-use items for every child.
- Honest advice — if a tooth can be watched rather than treated, we will tell you.
- Whole-family appointments so you can bring siblings together. Learn about our team on the about us page.
Frequently asked questions
When should my child first visit the dentist?
By their first birthday, or within six months of the first tooth appearing. The first visit is friendly and preventive — no treatment, just a look and some guidance for parents.
Do baby teeth really need treating if they will fall out?
Yes. Baby teeth hold space for permanent teeth, guide speech and allow proper eating. The last ones are not replaced until age eleven or twelve, and infection in a baby tooth can damage the adult tooth developing beneath it.
What are dental sealants and does my child need them?
Sealants are thin protective coatings flowed into the deep grooves of permanent molars, where most childhood cavities start. They are painless, need no drilling, and are strongly recommended once the first permanent molars come through around age six.
Is fluoride safe for children?
Yes, in appropriate amounts. Use a smear of fluoride toothpaste under age three and a pea-sized amount after, supervise brushing so it is not swallowed, and professional fluoride applications are quick and safe.
How do I stop my child sucking their thumb?
Most children stop naturally. If it continues past age four or five it can affect how the front teeth and jaws grow, and we can help with gentle behavioural approaches or a simple appliance if needed.
My child is terrified of the dentist. What can I do?
Bring them for a visit with no treatment planned, book early in the day, avoid frightening words at home, and let us do the explaining. We work at their pace and never force treatment on a frightened child.
When should my child have an orthodontic check?
Around age seven. Crossbites, severe crowding and jaw discrepancies are best identified while the jaws are still growing, when treatment can be simpler and shorter.
My child knocked out a permanent tooth — what do I do?
Hold it by the crown, not the root, do not scrub it, keep it in milk, and get to a dentist immediately. Time is critical and the tooth can sometimes be re-implanted.
How often should children have checkups?
Every six months, or every three to four months if they are prone to decay, wear braces, or have had recent treatment.
Can children have tooth-coloured fillings?
Yes. We use tooth-coloured composite and fluoride-releasing glass ionomer materials for children rather than silver amalgam.
Book your child's dental visit
Whether it is a first checkup, a sealant appointment or a tooth that has started to hurt, we will look after them gently. Your first consultation and X-ray are free.
Call +91 98912 42043 or book online. Open Monday to Saturday 9 AM to 8 PM, Sunday 10 AM to 2 PM.