Children’s dentistry in Trieste
- “It’s for my child”
- “At what age should the first visit be?”
- “My child is scared”
We look after children’s teeth and gums with care and gentleness, without gas or sedatives, helping them build healthy habits and a calm relationship with the dentist. The first visit can take place from around 18 to 24 months.
What it is
The oral health of the little ones is a priority at our practice: we care for children’s teeth and gums with attention and gentleness, helping them develop healthy habits that will stay with them as they grow up.
According to the Clinical Recommendations of the Italian Ministry of Health, the first dental visit should take place between 18 and 24 months, even without dental problems. In our experience, many children who came for their first visit between 8 and 10 years old already had several problems, often with a strong fear of the dentist.
At the practice we aim to
- Make visits to the dentist calm, easing tension and fear as much as possible.
- Follow children as they grow, to prevent and deal with future problems.
- Teach them good oral hygiene.
- Prepare them to look after their permanent teeth.
Who it is for, and who it is not for
Who it is for
- Children from 18 to 24 months, even with only baby teeth and no problems.
- Children with a cavity, a painful tooth or a broken baby tooth.
- Children who are scared after a past experience, with a slower pace.
When it is not done, or should wait
We do not use gas or sedatives: we work with patience and play, and sometimes a few short meetings are needed before treatment.
For children we collaborate with a dentist who works in paediatric dentistry; when needed, other professionals of the practice are involved too, for example for orthodontics.
Step by step
How it works
- Getting to know each otherThe child meets the practice, the people and the instruments: the first time is above all a meeting.
- The visitTeeth, gums and growth are checked, explaining to the child what is happening.
- AdviceFor the parent: hygiene, diet, when to come back.
- Check-upsRegular visits, to prevent and catch problems early.
We firmly believe that before the tooth to be treated there is the child to be protected.
The Kravos & Guadagno practice
Before the tooth, the child
We firmly believe that before the tooth to be treated there is the child to be protected, medically and emotionally. That is why we have chosen not to use gas or sedatives.
Our approach is based on patience, tact and responsibility: we explain what is happening, involve the child simply and directly, and turn the visit into a game.
Before the session and in the days after
Before the session
- Talk about it with simple, calm words, without promises or threats.
- Bring a favourite toy, if it reassures them.
In the days after
- After a treatment, until the anaesthesia wears off, help them not to bite their lip or cheek.
- Praise them for how it went: the next visit starts from there.
Risks, explained honestly
Baby teeth have thinner enamel: neglected decay advances quickly and can cause pain or abscesses.
After anaesthesia a child can bite their lip or cheek without noticing: keep an eye on them until it wears off.
A sealant lasts a few years but wears down over time: if it’s lost early, it’s redone.
Not all children cooperate straight away: sometimes several short meetings are needed.
No treatment can give certainty of success: healthy teeth also depend a lot on oral hygiene at home and on diet.
The alternatives
- Waiting until the child is in pain is not an alternative: the first visit is there to prevent it.
- For decay in baby teeth, a filling; in the most serious cases, sometimes extraction with a space maintainer.
When to call
Call the practice if your child:
- has a tooth that hurts, or a swollen cheek;
- has knocked a tooth, which has broken, moved or fallen out;
- has a fever together with toothache;
- has bitten their lip or cheek after anaesthesia, and the wound is swollen or painful.
If you find it hard to breathe, swallow or speak, if the swelling spreads up towards the eye or down towards the neck, if you cannot open your mouth, or after a blow to the head, call 112 straight away or go to the emergency department. During opening hours call the practice. Out of hours, for severe pain or swelling, the two partners' mobiles; if they do not answer, the out-of-hours doctor on 116117, and the emergency department if bleeding does not stop after 20 minutes of pressure with gauze or if the swelling comes with a high fever. A piece that comes off or a wire that pokes, if there is no severe pain and no swelling, can usually wait until the practice reopens.
Questions
What you ask us
At what age should a child first see the dentist?
According to the Clinical Recommendations of the Italian Ministry of Health, between 18 and 24 months, even without dental problems. Getting used to the dental setting early helps the child experience it calmly.
Do baby teeth need treating?
Yes, especially if there is decay. Baby teeth have thinner enamel and a large pulp chamber, so decay can progress quickly, causing pain, abscesses or fistulas, and it can affect the permanent teeth underneath.
What are dental sealants?
A preventive technique that seals the grooves and pits of the chewing surface of molars and premolars, creating a barrier against bacteria and food. They are especially recommended for the first permanent molars around age 6 to 7.
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An appointment
We can talk it through at your appointment
Leave your name and phone number: the front desk will call you back in the time slot you prefer.
You will be called back by our front desk: Sara, Désirée, Giulia, Giovanni and Nicole.
Would you rather call us?
+39040660040Monday to Thursday 9:00-19:00, Friday 9:00-18:00