Specialized Dental Care for Children

KIDS DENTISTRY

KIDS DENTISTRY/ PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY is explained as the branch of dentistry which deals with the oral health care of children from birth through to adolescence. Children with special needs are also treated with special care Pediatric dentistry is different from general dentistry and parents choose it as they are concerned about the oral health of their children.

Pediatric dentistry is also called Pedodontics.

The dentist specializing in oral health of kids is called a pediatric dentist. A person who treats all sorts of teeth diseases in infants, children and adolescents is the accurate pediatric dentist definition.

Many children nowadays are exposed to several tooth diseases and tooth decay is quite common in them. Milk teeth go away with time but the important ones are the permanent teeth which need exceptional care. If the oral hygiene is not taken care of, a child has to go through painful procedures and treatments.

Pediatric dentists teach children the techniques for brushing their teeth and for taking care of them. A pediatric dentist is the best choice to fulfill the child’s oral needs and get information about pediatric dentistry.

TECHNIQUES OF PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY

Children are always tough to handle and those in tooth pain are extremely difficult. They possess mood swings and their behaviour is entirely different from normal. Dentists have to show great patience and effective techniques to handle the children and eliminate their pain at the same time. There are certain behaviour management techniques for a pediatric dental patient.

The dentist should have a detailed meeting with the parents to discuss the child’s behaviour, fear and dental health. He should inform the parents of the phases involved in dental procedure. He should ask them to make the child’s mind comfortable about the procedure and ready him or her.

Dentists and patients should have a strong relationship. Pediatric dentists should effectively and efficiently perform the treatment of the patients. They should have a positive attitude. Communicating with the child who is cooperative or uncooperative will result in successful completion of dental procedures.

Communication will also lead the child to develop a positive attitude towards dentistry. Adopting the tell-show-do technique with the child and showing him what to do will make it easy for the child to understand. The dentist should decide whether the parents should be present during the dental procedure or not. The dentists should also practice non-verbal communication if needed during the procedure. It may be necessary if he cannot talk and guide the patient by facial expressions.

It is also important to distract the child to decrease the pain intensity of the child; for example, the child can be given a mirror to hold or sunglasses to wear to avoid the light exposure.