Stages of Dental Disease in Children with Dr. Philip Memoli

The diagnosis of dental disease in children occurs in five stages. The treatment protocol for your child is determined by the assessed stage of the problem(s).

Stage I examines the underlying causes of a child’s dental problems. These may be one or more of five types:

Dietary, Biological terrain, Immune system, Functional issues, Hormonal issues

Stage II looks for oral susceptibility to dental diseases in teeth, gums and jaw. Examination of teeth looks for enamel disturbances, such as erosion, decalcification, fluorosis, developmental disturbances, and natural bleaching. Assessing gum problems involves reviewing oral hygiene habits, including: brushing correct flossing and rinsing techniques, which prevent decay and gum disease; and oil pulling, which can mitigate infectious agents in the mouth. When examining the jaw, the dentist looks for myofunctional and speech problems, mouth breathing, and airway blockage and/or sleep apnea, which may indicate chronic inflammation of tonsils or adenoids.

Stage III looks for the initial indicators of dental disease:

Dentin decay, Gingivitis, Misalignment

Stage IV, the oral-systemic metastasis stage, dental problems have progressed to a more serious level. The dentist’s examination may find indicators of:

Pulpal infections, Periodontal infections, Skeletal misalignment

Stage V, systemic manifestations of dental disease occur. These may be either lymphatic in nature or obstetric. The heart, lungs, and pancreas are especially susceptible to systemic manifestations of dental disease. Functional problems that result from these systemic infections may include cranial underdevelopment, postural, spinal, and neuromuscular health issues, and temporomandibular joint and cranial-sacral problems.