The latest definition of pediatric dentistry given by the ADA is as follows:

“Pediatric dentistry is an age-defined specialty providing primary and comprehensive preventive and therapeutic health care for infants and children through adolescence, including those with special health care needs.”

This definition given by the ADA is very comprehensive and covers many points. First, the “age defined” clause notes that pediatric dentists have no limitations on the type of treatments they offer and are performed specifically for infants and children through adolescence up to a specific age. The primary and comprehensive care part means there is no need for patient referral. Parents can have their children treated just like they would a pediatrician. The definition also states that pediatric dentists will treat children from infancy through adolescence.

Unfortunately, a significant percentage of the United States child population suffers from serious dental disease that is potentially dangerous. Unlike other illnesses like the flu or a cold, these will not go away unless they are properly treated. These serious diseases must be done with the utmost care so that young patients feel comfortable. If left untreated, these diseases could have serious repercussions, including mental problems. The need for sedation then arises while they are being treated. The AAPD takes the best possible precautions so that an accident does not occur that could result in injury or even death of the child. To date there has not been a single case of morbidity and mortality in the AAPD records.

Sedation dentistry is the term provided to the method of providing sedation to the patient to undergo a vital dental operation. Generally it helps the patient to lose consciousness and therefore the notion of time. He may feel that the operation lasted only a couple of minutes, while he may have taken many hours. Many people suffer from the common phobia of visiting the dentist. Consequently, neglect of dental care leads to numerous diseases. These diseases are often very serious in nature. The sedation dentistry process helps address these issues by reducing the patient’s fears. Treatments of very serious proportions, and which generally may have required many sessions, are completed in a couple of sessions. Almost all dentists offer sedation dentistry today, but the level of expertise varies from dentist to dentist.

The meaning of the word ‘sedation’, as defined in the Oxford Dictionary, is to give someone a drug to make them drowsy or drowsy. It affects the central nervous system of the human body and produces a general effect of calm and relaxation. The various types of sedative drugs are tranquilizers, sleeping pills, and antidepressants. These can be administered in a variety of ways. In the past, IV sedation was used to sedate dental patients. Now, with the growth of technology, oral and inhalation sedatives are also available. These methods are very popular with patients compared to intravenous sedation. Sedation dentistry has given an option to many people who fear pain during treatment.

When sedation is administered, the person does not fall asleep, they just feel sleepy. Therefore, sedation dentistry should be called sleep dentistry. In case of existence of some complex medical problems, sedation is not used. Instead, general anesthesia is used to induce deeper sleep. Sedation puts patients in a state of relief and therefore makes them feel or remember very little of the actual process.

Sedation dentistry is used in children, although in restricted doses. Most children have a phobia of the dentist. This is then used to calm and calm your inhibitions so that dental surgery can take place. Plus, it helps alleviate fear so it doesn’t haunt them in their adulthood.

It often becomes very necessary to be treated by a dentist with a lot of experience in sedation because some cases require a high dose to be administered. A trained additional experienced dentist should administer these doses, as these are very delicate cases and a small mistake can lead to death. The different methods of sedation administered are oral conscious sedation dentistry, inhalation conscious sedation dentistry, intravenous conscious sedation dentistry, and intramuscular conscious sedation dentistry. Patients given oral sedation are not allowed to drive a car 24 hours after the appointment. It is usually given to the patient one hour before the appointment. Inhalation sedation uses nitrous oxide. This is the most common method used by nearly 35% of all American dentists. The advantage of this method is that the patient can resume his activities almost immediately after the treatment. IV sedation is not as widely available as the aforementioned types of sedation, but it is one of the safest methods for complex treatments. Dentists who use this method receive advanced training and certification from state dental organizations. The last method is intramuscular sedation. This is a fairly effective method of sedation for adults with mild dental anxiety. It is used more in case of fearful children. This sedation takes effect 20-30 minutes after being administered.

Going back to pediatric dentistry, most parents or guardians aren’t sure when their child’s first dental visit should be. The family dentist may even advise some parents not to bring their child in for a checkup until all the baby teeth have erupted. This can take 2-3 years on average or in some cases even 6 years. This type of delay can lead to unfavorable dental conditions that may not be in the best interest of the child. The AAPD asks parents and other caregivers to have the child examined by the age of 12 months.

Here the pediatric dentist generally records the medical and dental history of the family and the child. During the first visit, parents are asked to remain in the clinic. The main objective of this visit is to find out the child’s risk of developing oral or dental diseases. The pediatric dentist also determines the correct rate of tooth development, that is, how many teeth at a certain age.

Caries is an infectious disease that affects infants. Improper eating patterns can lead to this disease. This type of caries greatly affects the child, the parents and the pediatric dentist. Early recognition and intervention can lead to successful treatment or at least control the spread of the disease. The essential factors for the spread of Caries disease are:-

1. Teeth must be present.

2. Bacteria must be present

3. There must be food for bacteria to pay

4. Cavities take time to develop

Teeth usually begin to come in at the end of 6 months. Several teeth begin to grow at 12 months. All the upper and lower incisors have already erupted after 12 months. The bacteria that is the cause of tooth decay is Streptococcus Mutans. It does not appear until after the eruption of the teeth in the infant. Streptococcus mutans itself does not adhere to teeth but requires other bacteria to form a colony. The food that acts as food for the bacteria is usually milk, juice or any other sugary food. There must be an extended period of time for the bacteria to carry out the demineralization of the teeth and take their toll. The bottle of milk before going to bed is usually the most dangerous.

If diagnosed early, remineralization can be done, but if it has already reached a higher stage, then extraction may be the best option. The pediatric dentist advises the best course of action for parents to follow. Very young children may need sedation for treatment.

People generally have a high degree of trust in the dentists they have gone to for treatment. So when they have to search for a new dentist for whatever reason, like after moving to a new area or just for other reasons, they end up in soup. Their judgment is affected by handicapped experiences and they tend to make wrong decisions.

Moving to a new area or just finding a new dentist, these tips would help you a lot. If you’re moving to a new area, ask your old dentist if they can recommend someone. Some good sources for requesting new dentists, even if you’re staying in your old area, are friends, family, church members, co-workers, and your pharmacist. A good way to get detailed information on all the dentists in your area or the area of ​​your interest is to go online. The websites often provide extensive information about doctors and medical professionals. A call to the nearest dental school clinic may also yield results.

Now that you have found several dentists in the area, the next step is to find out about them. One of the most important things to determine is the distance between the clinic and your home. It must be in an accessible area, not too far away. The clinic could also be located near your office. Find out if it would be easy to get appointments that fit your needs. Look around the cleanliness of the clinic and the instruments. Instruments must be sterilized correctly, otherwise there is a risk of contracting diseases. The dentist must wear a glove, mask and gown. The interaction between the dentist and his staff should be cordial and peaceful. Now talk to the doctor about your dental history. Explain any problems and treatments you’ve had in the past. Notice the way he explains preventative measures and treatments. Would you feel comfortable sharing all the concerns? Clear all matters related to fees, payments and insurance. These should be done before treatment. Ask if they provide emergency treatment after hours. This is a good idea if you have a rigid work schedule that continues late into the night. Find out about his education and degrees, and ask what continuing education he has taken to keep abreast of the latest changes in dental technology.

Another thing to find out about the dentist’s hours is if they are accepting new patients. Because some doctors, due to their busy schedules, rarely accept new patients. Do you treat patients with special cases such as physical disabilities, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, autism and children with special needs? There are some dentists who treat only these cases, so it may be better to look for a dentist of this type if the patient suffers from any of them. The techniques that the dentist offers as a means of sedation to counter dental phobia, if he sees both children and adults, if there is a payment for missed or broken appointments, should be investigated. It is always best to find out about the different types of payment plans the dentist might be offering. Most clinics offer interest-free payment plans today. If you have dental insurance, ask the dentist if they accept it. If they do, will they file the claims or will you have to? They will also accept a partial payment from you or you will have to pay the full amount and the insurance company will reimburse you later.