Pediatric Dentistry

Pediatric Dentistry

Introduction

Pediatric dentistry is the specialized area of dentistry limited to the care of children from birth through adolescence, with additional focus in providing oral healthcare to patients with special needs

Key terms

• Analogy (uh-NAL-uh-jee) comparison of similarities between things that are otherwise not alike.

• Athetosis (ATH-e-toe-sis) type of involuntary movement of the body, face, and extremities.

• Autonomy (aw-TON-uh-mee) childhood process of becoming independent.

• Avulsed (uh-VULST) torn away or dislodged by force.

• Cerebral palsy (suh-REE-brul PAWL-zee) neural disorder of motor function caused by brain damage.

• Chronologic (KRON-uh-loj-ik) age actual age (months, years) of pediatric patients.

• Contour (KON-toor) to shape or conform an object.

• Down syndrome chromosomal defect that results in abnormal physical characteristics and mental impairment; also called trisomy 21.

Key Terms

• Emotional age measure of the level of emotional maturity of pediatric patients.

• Extrusion (ek-STROO-zhun) displacement of a tooth from its socket as a result of injury.

• Frankl (FRANG-kul) scale type of measurement designed to evaluate patient behavior.

• Intellectual disability disorder that limits a person in intellectual functions and adaptive behavior, which includes social and practical skills.

• Intrusion (in-TROO-zhun) displacement of a tooth into its socket as a result of injury.

• Luxation (luk-SAY-shun) dislocation.

• Mental age measure of the level of intellectual capacity and development of pediatric patients.

• Neural (NUR-uhl) referring to the brain, nervous system, and nerve pathways.

Key terms

• Open bay concept of open design used in pediatric dental practices.

• Papoose (pa-POOS) board type of protective stabilization device that holds the pediatric patient’s hands, arms, and legs still.

• Pediatric (pee-dee-AT-rik) dentistry dental specialty concerned with neonatal through adolescent patients, as well as patients with special needs in these age groups.

• Postnatal (post-NAY-tul) after birth.

• Prenatal before birth.

• Pulpotomy (pul-POT-uh-mee) removal of the coronal portion of a vital pulp from a tooth.

• Spasticity (spas-TIS-i-tee) exaggerated movement of the arms and legs.

• T-band type of matrix band used for primary teeth.

The Pediatric Dentist

A pediatric dentist will continue his or her education for an additional 2 to 3 years after dental school The program of study and hands-on experience prepares the specialist to meet the needs of infants, children, adolescents, and persons with special healthcare needs

The Pediatric Dental Assistant

Pediatric dentistry provides a clinical practice environment where you will have an active role in the patient’s dental care

Many pediatric dental offices employ the certified dental assistant to provide preventive procedures that are legal in that state

The Pediatric Patient

A pediatric patint should be treateed the same as you would treat an adult patient. They deserve to be treated with respect. With pediatric patients their age has different meanings. • Chronologic age is the child’s actual age in terms of years and months. • Mental age refers to the child’s level of intellectual capacity and development. • Emotional age describes the child’s level of emotional maturity.

Erikson’s stages of development

Psychiatrist Erik Erikson stated that the socialization process happens in stages. He formulated five stages as a guideline to be used as a index to anticipated behavior for a child. It is important to remember that not all children will fall into these stages at the the anticipated time.

Learning basic trust

Play age

Learning autonomy

School age

Adolescence

Learning basic trust: This is the period of infancy through the first year of life The child is well-handled, nurtured, and loved and develops trust and security and a basic optimism

Learning autonomy: During this period, children learn to sit, stand, walk, and run Vocally, they progress from babbling to using simple sentences Socially, they learn to identify familiar faces and alternate through periods of being friendly and being fearful of strangers Around the age of 2 years old, children begin to have basic fears associated with separation from the parent and a related fear of strangers

Play age: The child needs to be allowed to develop autonomy and initiative The child requires control and structure in his or her environment The child is able to follow simple instructions The child welcomes an active role in the treatment experience

School age: This is a period of socialization The child is learning to get along with people The child is learning the rules and regulations of society The child is learning to overcome fears of objects and situations

Adolescence: From age 12 to 20, this young person acquires self-certainty They experiment with different roles Clear sexual identity is established The adolescent will seek leadership and gradually develop a set of ideals