Paediatric dentistry is where the seeds of optimal oral health are planted. In recent years, the provision of paediatric dental care has been steadily growing, but working with children can be challenging. In this article, James D. Nickman, DDS, president of the AAPD, describes the past few years as “exciting times” for paediatric dentistry.
He sees growth in the profession, with the number of practitioners training to treat this population increasing each year. He characterizes paediatric practitioners as a young and diverse population. Demand for paediatric dental care, Nickman believes, is driven mainly but not only by parents seeking the best treatment for their children.1
Products help fuel growth
One of the defining characteristics of paediatric care, according to Nickman, is that it advocates prevention. Fluoride remains key to caries-prevention efforts, and products, such as professionally applied fluoride varnish, have increased patient compliance. Likewise, Nickman adds, silver diamine fluoride is helpful in treating infants and younger children because it allows oral health professionals to medically manage the disease until the children are better able to tolerate treatment. Advancements in restorative materials have improved the aesthetics of treatment among children. The use of laser technology to treat caries, remove bone, or treat hard and soft tissue is also growing among paediatric dental practices, with such benefits reported as reductions in post-operative infection, reduced anxiety for patients due to decreased noise level, and less need for anesthesia.2
The dental market has developed a variety of products designed to appeal to children such as manual toothbrushes featuring kid-friendly motifs that include bright colours and patterns, and friendly monster characters for ages 2 and older. Toothpastes, too, have been tailored to the paediatric population, and include fun flavours.
Oral health literacy and safe practice above all
In many cases, children depend on a parent or caregiver to provide self-care and it is important to keep instructions simple. In addition, care plans should be developed and discussed in a culturally appropriate manner whenever possible. Part of making that treatment optimal, is for practitioners to spend the time necessary to communicate the needs of the child and options for treatment in understandable language. Children and their parents may historically have dreaded visiting the dental office, but advances in products and practice methods are overcoming the barriers that once separated young children from vital treatment. Despite the challenges this trend will present, it provides an opportunity for the dental profession to showcase its strengths and lead generations of patients on the path to optimal oral health.
References
1. Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission. Medicaid Access in Brief: Children’s Dental Services. Available at: https://www.macpac.gov/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Childrens-access-to-dental-services.pdf
2. Kotlow L. Lasers in pediatric dentistry. In: Convissar RA. Principles and Practice of Laser Dentistry. 2nd ed. Maryland Heghts, Missouri: Mosby/Elsevier; 2016:182/202.
This article is a property of Sunstar Americas
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