Pediatric Dentistry – A Guide for General Practitioner

Abstract

Children a resource of the world are the promise of what our future is going to be. A healthy child is a better promise of a better world than an unhealthy child. Oral health is a very important aspect to ensure a healthy future therefore oral health for children is a worthy concern regardless of child’s nationality, ethnicity or geographic location. Dentistry for children has come a long way from its humble beginning in 1924 with the publishing of first comprehensive text book on dentistry for children followed by formation of The American Academy of Pedodontics in the late forties, which was also recognized by council of dental education a part of the ADA to certify candidates to practice specialized dentistry for children. Mid eighties saw the present name American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry being adopted followed by defining pediatric dentistry which in the present day is defined as an age-defined specialty that provides both primary and comprehensive preventive and therapeutic oral health care for infants and children through adolescence, including those with special health care needs1. Pediatric Dentistry as the definition implies is a body of knowledge that is dependent upon curriculum of other dental subjects along with the latest development happening in various specialties of dentistry. To be able to give primary, comprehensive and preventive oral health care to children of all ages the pediatric dentist relies on preventive dentistry, pulpal therapy, instrumentation and restoration of teeth, dental material, oral surgery, preventive and interceptive orthodontics, and principals of prosthetics. Besides the dental knowledge, a working knowledge is also required of pediatric medicine, general and oral pathology along with growth and development. For the development of appropriate preventive strategy it is imperative that the pediatric dentist have knowledge of nutrition and systemic as well as topical effects of fluoride. To be able to deal effectively with children behavior management and a thorough knowledge of psychological development is imperative because child needs to be treated differently than the adult.