Pedodontics: A Field Focused on Dental Care for Children

Children are not like other patients; their growing, or very new, teeth require special care. Pedodontics – or paediatric dentistry – includes or encompasses all preventive and conservative dental care for children, from the first baby tooth to adolescence.

The pedodontist’s tasks 

• Routine consultations
• Prevention and instruction in dental hygiene
• Preventive care
• Treatment of cavities
• Extractions
• Dental emergencies

In addition, the pedodontist works closely with the orthodontist and can therefore identify your child’s needs in terms of jaw growth and tooth alignment.

Demystifying dental care

The medical environment can sometimes be overwhelming – especially for children. Trained in pain management and using a child-friendly psychological approach, the pedodontist’s valuable expertise involves a gentle touch and a knack for teaching. Their role is to reassure the child, addressing him or her in age-appropriate language, thereby ensuring that the treatment is carried out in a climate of trust and cooperation.

The different treatments

1. The first consultation

The first consultation is very important in the patient-practitioner relationship, as it enables the child to be put at ease and provides the parents with the main information. This diagnostic visit consists of a complete oral examination and x-rays (if necessary). Following this consultation, a comprehensive review is provided and explained to the parents.

This first visit takes place around the 2.5- to 3-years of age mark, which ensures that parents are taught basic dental hygiene for their child. Early dental care allows your child to feel comfortable and confident at the dentist for the rest of his or her life.

A check-up every six to twelve months is then essential to ensure proper oral health for your children and to follow the changes from baby teeth to permanent teeth.

2. Preventive care

The aim of prevention is to ensure better oral hygiene for children. The dentist works in close collaboration with the dental hygienist. This is where brushing techniques and the need for regular cleaning are taught, which in turn reduce the risk of cavities and periodontal disease. Preventive care also includes the sealing of the permanent molar grooves, which is effective in preventing possible cavities when these teeth start growing in as of the age of six.

3. Conservative care

Les soins conservateurs sont les traitements des caries et des défauts de l’émail MIH (l’hypo minéralisation des molaires et des incisives).  Le pédodontiste met ainsi tout en œuvre pour que cette expérience se déroule de manière optimale, à commencer par l’anesthésie, Pour se faire, chez Smile and Care, le spécialiste utilise une technique d’anesthésie indolore, localisée et efficace appelée Quicksleeper. Tout au long du traitement, l’assistante dentaire s’assure du bien-être de l’enfant et des parents.

Conservative care is the treatment of cavities and molar-incisor hypomineralisation (MIH) defects. The pedodontist does everything to ensure an optimal experience, starting with the anaesthesia. To do so, at Smile and Care, the specialist uses a painless, localised, and effective anaesthetic technique called the “Quicksleeper”. Throughout the treatment, the dental assistant ensures the child’s and the parents’ well-being.

Le Quicksleeper

Thanks to this solution, no more fear of needles! This technique of transcortical anaesthesia (also called “electronic anaesthesia”) allows a painless and very localised injection. As a result, the child will not have any lip or tongue numbness, thus avoiding self-biting and the discomfort caused by a classic anaesthetic. Presented in the form of a magic pen, the child will not be afraid of the injection.

The Quicksleeper allows for painless anesthesia.

MIH: Molar-incisor hypomineralisation

MIH is a defect in enamel quality that occurs during tooth formation. It can present itself in several forms and evolutionary stages. MIH is diagnosed by the dentist who then offers the appropriate conservative treatment according to the stage of evolution of the hypomineralisation.

4. Treatment of broken teeth

A broken baby tooth, often after a fall, can be hard for a child. In addition to looking unattractive, it can cause sensitivities to hot and cold, and even risk becoming infected. It can also compromise the proper implantation of the future permanent teeth. These dental traumas therefore require rapid treatment.

5. Extractions

While extractions are often necessary during orthodontic treatment to ensure better growth of permanent teeth, patients often dread them. For this treatment, the pedodontist provides the child with calming support, explaining the steps required for the procedure. Just as in conservative care treatments, anaesthesia is administered using the Quicksleeper. After the procedure, the child leaves with his or her tooth in a small box, ready to be placed under the pillow for the Tooth Fairy.

6. Emergencies

Dental emergencies often cause stress for children and parents alike. It is important to make an appointment as soon as possible. In the event of dental trauma (falls, broken, displaced or lost teeth, teeth changing colour), the pedodontist provides emergency treatment and follow-up for the child, working – if need be – in collaboration with other specialists.

If you would like to learn more about pedodontics, feel free to contact us to schedule a first consultation : Appointment