Pedodontics-  The field of dentistry that deals with the treatment of children’s teeth.

When we hear the word (Pediatric Dentistry) we should think of treatment of children’s teeth.  The treatment and communication skills used with children is different for children of varying ages and different social backgrounds.  Communication with a 6 year old child isn’t the same as treating a 3 year old child.  Therefore, it is important to find a dentist that is great with all ages and has a personality that easily suits many different personality types.

When we think of Pedodontics, we are usually talking about treatment of the baby teeth or treating both “baby” and “adult” teeth.

There are many things a parent can do to help their child not be afraid or feel scared when they visit the dentist.  First off, take the child in when they are young and before they have any cavities.  They will have a short appointment with the dentist, have their teeth cleaned and checked for cavities, pictures of their teeth (x-rays).  Then we show the child how the water syringe rinses out their mouth and the big straw sucks the water out of the mouth.  We show how the overhead light shines on their teeth so that we can count their teeth.  Lastly, they receive a toy and both dentist and staff  will tell the child what a good helper they were that day (we hope, right moms?)   At the end of the appointment, the child should be excited about brushing their teeth (or in letting mom or dad do it.)  With all of this positive feedback and the pleasant atmosphere the child will often ask the parent when they get to come back to the office!  That is are main goal….  To make dentistry as pain-free and enjoyable as possible!

Techniques used to help a child feel comfortable at the dental office:

1. Voice Control. The dentist  will change the tone of his or her voice to get the child's attention.  The voice is still friendly, but it can also be firm.
2. Tell, Show, Do.  The dentist explains to the child what he or she is doing.  Next, the dentist will demonstrate how it is done on someone else (an older family member works nicely.)  Lastly, you do what you showed them you would do on the child.
3. Positive Reinforcement. The dentist praises or compliments the child for good behavior.  Telling the child that he/she is acting like a big kid motivates the child to keep on acting like “a big kid”.
4. Distraction. The dentist uses conversation about anything but what the child is having done in the office.  This helps keep the child's attention away from the work that is being done. Continuous talk from the dentist can sometimes be enough to keep the child’s mind off the work being done.
5. Nonverbal Communication. The dentist will usually use different body language to reinforce positive actions of a child.  This may be accomplished by either a smile or frown from the dentist.

Sedation Techniques. For the more anxious or nervous child, the dentist can use various sedations to help the child relax.  Sometimes the child will relax sufficiently enough with a little nitrous (laughing gas) and sometimes it is necessary to prescribe a “kitty cocktail”  along with the nitrous to ensure a safe and pleasant treatment for the child.