Is it necessary to have cavities in the baby teeth repaired?

乳牙蛀成了洞还有必要补上吗？

If the baby teeth are going to fall out, I don't think that it matters if they become decayed.

如果乳牙是要脱落的，我想蛀了也没有关系呀？

You're mistaken about that. Cavities in the baby teeth should be treated for two reasons.

对于这一点你是错的，乳牙之所以要治疗有以下两个原因：

First of all, the tooth may become infected if the decay is severe. Infection from a tooth mightbe painful and harmful to a child's general health.

首先，假如蛀得太厉害了，对于其他牙齿是会感染的，牙齿感染可能会痛，对孩子的全身健康也有害。

The second reason is that premature1 loss of baby teeth can result in crooked2 permanentteeth.

第二个原因是乳牙过早脱落会使恒牙长成阻生齿。

For which teeth is the most important?

哪一颗牙齿最重要？

This is particularly important in the permanent first molar (six year molar), and the deciduoussecond molar. If the permanent first molar moves forward because the deciduous3 secondmolar has been lost too soon. the length of the dental arch will be shortened. If that happens,there may not be space for all the permanent teeth.

恒牙的第一颗磨牙（六岁磨牙）和乳牙的第二颗磨牙最重要，假如恒牙第一颗磨牙因为乳牙的第二颗磨牙过早脱落而向前移动，那么齿弓的长度就要缩短，假如齿弓缩短了，那么对于所有的恒牙来说，空隙就会不够了。

And what do you do if there is not enough space?

假如空隙不够你就会怎么做？

A space maintainer is needed if certain baby teeth are lost too soon. A space retainer is neededwhen there isn't enough space. In the way, the dental arch is lengthened4 and space is made forthe teeth to grow normally.

若有些乳牙过早脱落，那么就需要空隙保持器，当空隙不够的时候就需要用空隙撑开器，用这种办法齿弓就可以弄长，那么就可以为牙齿的正常的发展腾出空隙。

I never realized that baby teeth are so important.

我过去一直没有认识到乳牙是这么重要。

Yes. Deciduous teeth are very important. Be sure that all of your children brush their teethwell. Don't give them too many sweet foods. Also, be sure that they have a dental examinationevery six months. Use toothpaste that has a fluoride in it to help strengthen the toothenamel and prevent cavities.

是的，乳牙确实非常重要，一定要做到使你的孩子们把牙齿刷好，不要给他们吃太多的甜东西，还有，一定让他们每六个月到牙医那里检查一次，要用含有氟化物的牙膏，以增强牙齿的珐琅和防止蛀牙。

I see. We do not use fluoride toothpaste. I didn't know it is so helpful.

明白了，我们没有用含氟化物的牙膏，我不知道这种牙膏这么有用。

Fluoride that's applied5 to the teeth by a dentist or dental hygienist is also helpful. Fluoride in achild's drinking water is the third way to strengthen the teeth. It's the most effective way toprevent cavities. Ideally, all three methods of applying fluoride should be used.

由牙医或医生助理给牙齿涂上氟化物也有效果，第三种增强牙齿的方法是在孩子们喝的水中放入氟化物，这是防止蛀牙的最好办法，最理想的是三种使用氟化物的办法都探用。

As for now, Doctor, what is the best thing to do?

就说现在吧，最好的办法是什么？

There are many things that I have to do before I make a diagnosis6 and treatment plan for yourson.

在我给你的儿子作出诊断和治疗计划之前，我要做好些事。

Today we'll take the following:

今天我们要做以下以下几件事：

1) A profile photograph (picture) of the head.

一、拍一张头部侧面的照片。

2) An intraoral photograph.

二、拍一张口腔内的照片。

3) Orthodontic study models (plaster models of the teeth and jaws).

三、做用于矫正手术研究用的模型（牙齿和上、下颌的石膏模型）

4) A cephalogram (an X-ray of the head).

四、部的X光片。

5) An orthopantmograph (a panorex X-ray of the jaws).

五、拍一张上、下颌的全面照片。

6) Complete X-ray series including bitewings and periapicals.

六、拍包括咬圈和齿根尖部在内的一套X光照片。

Please make an appointment to come back next week. At that time I'll decide what has to bedone to treat your son.

请先预约好下次再过来，到时我再决定如何给你的儿子治疗。

One week later:

一个星期之后

I've studied your case and I've made a diagnosis1 and treatment plan.

我研究过你的病历，并作出了诊断和治疗计划。

What have you decided2, Doctor?

医生，您决定怎样治疗？

Even though there are many favorable factors in Taro's case, there isn't enough space for allthe permanent teeth. It'll be necessary to extract3 the upper and lower first premolars. Thespace that's made by the extractions will be needed to move the teeth into normal positions.There won't be any spaces between Taro's teeth after treatment.

尽管按太郎的情况来看，他的有利因素还不少，但是对于他所有的恒牙来说空隙还是不够的，有必要将上、下排的第一颗前磨牙拔掉，利用拔牙之后空出来的地方使牙齿移动到合适的位置上，太郎的牙齿经过治疗后在牙与牙之间就不会有空隙了，

He's going to be a very handsome young man when I've completed his case.

等到我给他治疗完毕之后，太郎会变成一个美少年。

Is it easy to move the teeth?

移动牙齿容易不容易？

No, it's usually quite difficult. It must be done slowly and carefully. The first step is to put bands(braces) on the teeth.

不容易，可难着呢，做起来应该又慢又细心，第一步先要在牙齿上放上带环（支架）

Pressure is applied4 to the bands so that the teeth will move to where they should be. Thepressure on the bands will be adjusted once a month.

在带环上加上压力，可以把牙齿往需要移动的地方移动，带环上的压力每一个月调整一次。