Teething is a term limited by common usage to eruption
of primary dentition. Since the time of Hippocrates (460-
377 BC) teething is blamed for ailments such as fever, convulsions, bronchitis, otitis media and diarrhea, for
causing 12% of the deaths in children under four years.
Complete opposite views are also available. It is seen
that these local and systemic factors are associated with
the disease somewhere else also and just as a coinci-
dence appear with teething.

Eruption of primary dentition usually begins in the 4-6th month of a child’s life. The appearance of normal teeth is eagerly awaited by the parents since it represents an important early milestone in development. In most cases eruption of teeth causes no distress to the child or parents, but sometimes the process causes local
irritation, which is usually minor but which may be severe enough to interfere with the child’s sleep.

CLINICAL FEATURES OF TEETHING

LOCAL SIGNS

1. Hyperemia or swelling of the mucosa overlying theerupting teeth.
2. Patches of erythema on the cheeks.
3. Flushing may also occur in the skin of the adjacen cheek.

SYSTEMIC SIGNS

1.General irritability and crying
2.Loss of appetit.

3.Sleeplessness

4.Increased salivation and drooling

5.Insanity
6.Meningitis

7.Increased thirst
8.Circumoral rash
9.Cough

Associated Problems
Systemic

Fever,convsions, diarrhea,vomiting, bronchitis, cholera, tetanus

Local

Eruption hematoma, eruption sequestrum, ectopic eruption, transmigration , transposition

MANAGEMENT

PREVENTIVE MEASURES

1. Maintain child’s oral and general body health.

2.Gums should be wiped after each meal with cotton soaked in a weak antiseptic.

3. Adequate quantities of vitamins, minerals , proteins, are given to the child for increasing body’s resistance .

GENERAL MANAGEMENT

1. Hard , non sweetened rusks

2. Use of toasted bread helps in providing gingival stimulation.

3. Use of hard fruits such as appleor guava .

MEDICAL MANAGEMENT

demulcent and mild antiseptic.

1. Topical application of glycerin: It acts as a protective demulcent and mild antiseptic.
2. Topical application of lignocaine hydrochloride which provide relief in the interval before the analgesic is effective .
3. Topical application of benzyl alcohol can also be effective.

SURGICAL MANAGEMENT

Surgical treatment is sometimes recommended for the relief of pain from an eruption cyst or a hematoma. The technique advocates is to make 2 semilinar incisions over the crowns of the tooth , which meet at their extremities. The intervening portion of the tissue , which lies over the occlusal surface of unerupted tooth is then removed with a pair of tissue foreceps.

REFERENCES:TEXTBOOK OF PEDODONTICS SHOBHA TANDON 2ND EDITION