Paediatric Dentistry

What is Paediatric Dentistry?

It is a branch of dentistry that deals with children right from their birth till they are adolescents. The dentist specialized in this dental specialty are known as Paediatric dentists.

Paediatric dentists usually promote the dental health of children and also provide the information required for parents about their children’s dental hygiene and how to help take care of their teeth.

Children usually start getting their first teeth in the first 6 months. When they reach the age of 6 or 7 years, they will start losing their teeth, also called milk teeth. These teeth are then replaced with secondary or permanent teeth.

All these development require the care of a pediatric dentist. They usually study for a minimum of 6 years where 4 years are for their dental school and 2 years for their specialization. The additional 2 years of specialization allows the dentist to have training in dentistry for infants, children, teenagers and also sometimes for children with special needs.

Why do we Need Pediatric Dentistry?

The child patients of Pediatric dentistry are not adults so the pediatric dentists have to be really patient and cooperative. They need to reach a comfortability level with their patients before examining and treating them.

The pediatric dentists and dental clinics usually design their clinics and their equipment keeping the children in mind. The pediatric dentists usually offer a wide range of treatments, to take care of the child’s teeth, gums and mouth.

Pediatric Dentistry Treatments
The different treatments that are available in clinics practicing Paediatric Dentistry are:

• Oral health Exams of Infants including risk assessments for caries in both mother and child.
• Monitor the growth and development of the child’s teeth and jaws.
• Provide preventive dental care to children that include cleaning and fluoride treatments. They will be recommended the right diet and nutrition.
• Counseling for habits like pacifier user and thumb sucking.
• Provide Orthodontic Treatment like assessing and treating early for cases of straightening teeth and also for correcting improper bite.
• Detecting and repairing tooth cavities and other dental defects, including filling of teeth.
  Diagnosing the different oral conditions that are associated with diseases like diabetes, congenital heart defects, asthma, hay fever and ADHD or Attention deficit or Hyperactivity Disorder.
• Treating and managing gum diseases and other conditions of the mouth like ulcers, short frenulae and pediatric periodontal disease.
• Provide care for dental injuries like fractured, displaced or knocked-out teeth.
• Provide X-ray examination and other diagnostic tests.
• Perform dental surgical procedures for children on the teeth and the oral cavity’s bones and soft tissues.
• Provide for safe administration of anesthetics for procedures involving children.

Authored By Dr Sanjay N - Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopaedics, Bangalore