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International Ayurvedic Medical Journal: Review Article ISSN: 2320 5091 Impact Factor: 4.018
International Ayurvedic Medical Journal: Review Article ISSN: 2320 5091 Impact Factor: 4.018
AYURVEDIC
MEDICAL JOURNAL
Review Article ISSN: 2320 5091 Impact Factor: 4.018
S. Asha
Research Officer (Ay), Dr. A. Lakshmipathi Research Centre for Ayurveda, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Email: dr.ashas2324@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Teething is the process by which an infant's 's first teeth, the deciduous teeth sequentially appear by emerging through the
th
gums, typically arriving in pairs1. It is an important landmark in assessing the growth and development of a child. Though
there have been many references regarding dental care and dental disorders in Ayurveda,, paediatric dentistry is an area
which is poorly dealt with.. Kashyapasamhitha
Kashyapasamhitha,, the authentic Ayurvedic classical book in paediatrics incorporates a sepa-
sep
rate chapter – Danthajanmikam adhyayam which deals with primary tooth eruption and its various aspects like types of
tooth eruption, factors influencing
cing tooth eruption, variations and disorders of eruption, period of tooth eruption and its ef-
e
fects etc. Vagbhata has dealt mainly the complications arising during dentition and how to mitigate them safely and effec-
effe
tively. An attempt has been made to combicombinene various references about primary tooth eruption from classical Ayurvedic
text books and to re-interpret
interpret them in the light of modern scientific studies and knowledge.
Keywords: Ayurveda,Paediatric,Dantajanma
Dantajanma, tooth eruption, Danta
INTRODUCTION
Ayurveda has included dentistry in Salakya tantra
tantra, one incisors, two lateral incisors, two canines and four mo- m
among the Ashtangas. Oral care has been given much lars (no
no premolars and third molars).
importance in Ayurveda.. Rules of brushing teeth (Dan- Pediatric dentistry in Ayurveda is an area which is least
tadhavan), tongue scrapping (Jihwa
Jihwa nirlek
nirlekhanam) and appraised. Teething is considered as an index of growth
other oral cleansing measures are included in the daily and development of children. Time of eruption and
regimen practices. Diseases of tooth and gums are eex- health of teeth indicates the level of maturity of asthid-
plained with their pathology
ogy and clinical manifestations. hathu in children. Variations or disorders in these can be
Treatment
reatment has been indicated specifically for each didis- a sign of any underlying pathology. Kashyapa Samhitha,
ease. All classics of Ayurveda have accepted number of the authentic paediatric
ediatric text in Ayurveda has given char-
teeth along with their sockets as thirty-two.
two. As per Ka- acteristics of ideal teeth and also has explained time and
shyapa Samhita, the authentic Ayurvedic paaediatric text- mode of eruption of ideal teeth in chapter Danthajanmi-
book, out of these,eight erupt once (Sakrijjatha) and the kamadhyayam. Disorders rs of tooth
to eruption and un-
rest erupt twice (dwija). The central incisors are called healthy characteristics of teeth are also narrated. These
Rajadanta, lateral incisors as Bastadanta, canines are are on parr with that of modern dentistry.
dentistry Safe and effec-
called as Damshtra and the rest which grow in original tive methods can be adopted from Ayurveda to relieve
roots are called Hanavya2. In what so ever month teeth teething disorders and to speed up the teething process.
erupt after birth, shedding occurs in the corresponding Ayurvedic medicines can be successfully
succe applied in den-
year of life. Primary dentition is comprised
sed of 20 teeth, tistry as antiseptic, antioxidants, and analgesic.
which exfoliates as the primary teeth erupt. For Primary
dentition, in each arch of mouth, there are two central
S. Asha: Primary Tooth Eruption - An Ayurvedic Overview
Physiology of tooth formation and eruption: begin in the eighth month of life10. The dhathus which
Danta is considered as the upadhatu of Asthi dhatu .It are involved in the eruption of teeth are Asthi and
has predominance of Prithvi and vayumahabhuta3 and Majja11. The dhathus get localised in the root of gums
contributes for the stoutness and rigidness of tooth. and along with doshas results in tooth eruption. The
Caraka has included teeth among the body parts which Dhatubija or tooth buds consists of localised prolifera-
grow after birth4. Classics have accepted number of teeth tion of cells in the dental lamina. These buds grows into
along with their sockets as thirty two5,6,7.The Dasanas or mesenchyme and develops into primary teeth. As per
Dantas are considered as Ruchakasthi, one among the various studies, on an average, the eruption of primary
type of Asthi’s8. teeth begins at about the age of 8 months with the man-
The teeth develop from ectoderm and mesoderm. The dibular central incisors, and ends at the age of about 30
development is in four continuous stages - initiation months with the maxillary second molars. Thus, in most
stage, bud stage, cap stage, bell stage and then matura- children the total period of eruption of primary teeth ex-
tion. In the initiation stage the dental lamina connects the tends for about 2 years. The eruption phase has been
developing tooth bud to the epithelial layer of mouth. classified into the following stages: pre-eruptive; in-
During the Bell stage, localized proliferation of cells in traosseous; mucosal penetration; pre-occlusal; and post-
the dental laminae forms round or oval swellings, the occlusal. In the pre-eruptive stage, the tooth crown is
tooth buds, which grow into the mesenchyme. In the cap formed and the position of the tooth within the jaw bone
stage, the deep surface of each ectodermal tooth bud be- is relatively stable. In the intraosseous stage the root be-
comes invaginated by mesenchyme called the dental pa- gins to form and the tooth starts by much slower move-
pilla, which gives rise to the dentin and dental pulp. The ment, moving inside the jaw bone towards the oral cav-
ectodermal, cap-shaped covering over the papilla is ity. The mucosal penetration stage occurs, in general,
called an enamel organ as it produces the future enamel when half to three-fourths of the root of the erupting
of the tooth. Hard tissues, including enamel and dentin, tooth has been formed. The pre-occlusal stage is rela-
develop during the next stage of tooth development i.e. tively short, whereas the post-occlusal stage is much
the crown, or maturation stage9. longer and it is characterized by much slower tooth
Tooth eruption is described as the movement of a tooth, movement. Although the movement of teeth during
primarily in the axial direction, from its site of develop- eruption primarily occurs in the axial direction, the teeth
ment in the jaw bone to its functional position in the oral actually move in all the three planes of space12.
cavity As per Ayurveda, ideally tooth eruption should
Complications of early teeth eruption: 6th month- Teeth will be inverted, covered with plaques,
As per Ayurveda, ideally tooth erupts by 8th month. discoloured and can be easily afflicted with dental caries.
When eruption occurs prior to this, there can be various 7th month- Teeth will be having two pockets, split, bro-
complications. ken, stripped, dry, irregular and protruberant14.
4th month- Teeth will be of less strength and can lead to These complications can be due to immaturity of
early decay and various other diseases. dhathus involved in tooth formation and eruption. Stud-
5th month- Teeth will be shaky, increased sensitivity and ies have failed to point out any specific cause for prema-
can lead to various other diseases. ture eruption of teeth. However few endocrine or genetic