Milk teeth matter more than they are given credit for. They hold space for the permanent teeth, guide them into position, and infection in a milk tooth can damage the permanent tooth developing underneath it.
The other half of paediatric dentistry is behavioural. A child whose first dental visit is an emergency learns that the clinic means pain. A first visit that is just a look and a count teaches the opposite.
When kids dentistry is the right treatment
- First dental visit, ideally around the first birthday or when the first teeth appear
- Cavities in milk teeth, including early childhood caries
- Fluoride application and pit-and-fissure sealants for high-risk children
- Thumb sucking, mouth breathing and tongue thrust habits
- A milk tooth lost early, where a space maintainer prevents crowding later
What the treatment involves
- 1
Acclimatisation
A short, non-invasive first visit so the child meets the chair and the instruments before anything needs to be done.
- 2
Examination and risk assessment
Caries risk, diet, brushing technique and any developing habit or bite problem are assessed.
- 3
Prevention
Professional cleaning, topical fluoride and sealants on the deep grooves of newly erupted molars.
- 4
Treatment when needed
Fillings, pulpectomy or a crown for a badly decayed milk tooth, and space maintainers where a tooth is lost early.
Cost
Children's treatment is priced like adult treatment for the same procedure, with milk-tooth extractions at the lower end.
See kids dentistry costs in Lucknow →Kids Dentistry: common questions
Do cavities in milk teeth need treatment if the tooth will fall out anyway?
Yes. An untreated milk tooth can abscess, cause pain and infection, damage the permanent tooth bud developing below it, and if it is lost too early the neighbouring teeth drift into the space and crowd the permanent tooth out of position.
When should a child first see a dentist?
Guidance is around the eruption of the first tooth or the first birthday, whichever is earlier. The purpose is prevention and familiarity, not treatment.
Is dental X-ray safe for children?
Modern digital dental radiographs use a very low dose, and are taken only when the diagnosis requires it, with appropriate shielding.
Medically reviewed
Reviewed by Dr. Dhanya Saxena, BDS, MHA, FMC, FAOI, oro-dental surgeon and aesthetic physician at Redefine Dental and Facial Aesthetic, Indira Nagar, Lucknow. Dental Council registration 20935. Last reviewed 30 August 2026.
This page is general information, not a diagnosis or a quotation. Your own treatment and cost are determined after an examination.