Kids may be quite a challenge as patients but can be the most rewarding as well. Dr Tim Keys, a Specialist Paediatric Dentist (also called a pedodontist!) – my guest on today’s episode is going to generously share his knowledge with us on paediatric dentistry and handling kids under your practice in the best possible way.

Paediatric dentistry (or Pedodontics) is a branch of paediatric medicine and dental specialty that deals with children’s oral health care from infancy through adolescence.

This is a wide-ranging interview with so many topics to be covered from behavioural issues, to parental management, and of course, tips, tricks and techniques to operate efficiently. If you are a dentist seeing kids or planning to take in kids in your practice, this episode is for you.

In this episode we discuss:

  • [02:28] Tim’s journey and how he started in pedodontics.
  • [04:58] The struggles general dentists have in providing the best possible dental care for kids and how they can improve their ability to look after the kids.
  • [08:34] Tips on managing parents and creating a relaxed environment for them.
  • [12:34] Guidance on having parents in or out of the room.
  • [13:44] Best advice Tim has received on dentistry in his journey.
  • [15:35] Things he wished he’d known earlier about pedodontics.
  • [18:58] Techniques on efficient paediatric dental practice and longevity of treatments.
  • [24:00] Tim’s advice for dentists on treating kids.

Integrating Paediatric Dentistry into Your Practice

Integrating paediatric dentistry into your practice allows you to provide children and adolescents with specialised treatment and dental procedures that can set the foundation for lifelong good oral health habits and confidence.

Pedodontics requires gentle and compassionate care. Children can be anxious and scared of the dentist, so making them feel comfortable and at ease is essential.

Serving a child and adolescent requires a different approach and requires a different set of skills from serving adult patients. Still, it can be a lucrative and rewarding addition to your practice.

By building a relationship with your young patients and their families, you’ll be more successful in treating them effectively and creating a potential lifelong relationship.

About Paediatric Dentists

A paediatric dentist undergoes specialised training to work with children from infancy through their teenage years. They are skilled in handling children’s dental problems and offer various services, from preventative care like cleanings and fluoride treatments to restorative treatments.

Pedodontists also have experience handling children with special needs. This includes those with developmental disorders, medical conditions, and extreme dental anxiety. They understand how to manage these unique conditions, which can be crucial for parents who want the best dental care for their kids. Pedodontists work to create a safe, comfortable, and child-friendly environment to ensure positive dental experiences for children.

Besides ensuring kids have healthy teeth and gums, a dentist becomes a trusted confidant to whom many patients, particularly kids, disclose their innermost fears and joys during a dental visit.

Here’s what we can learn about handling kids in dental care from pedodontists.

Here are some tips on handling kids in dental care from pedodontists.

1.          Emphasise the importance of communication

Leverage various methods such as emotional demonstrations, education through storytelling, and open communication channels that encourage kids to speak up. Incorporating such techniques in general dental practice strengthens bonds between dentists and patients. Open communication makes kids feel valued, respected, and involved in their dental care, thus reducing anxiety levels.

2.          Incorporate imagination

Pedodontics uses various techniques and props that capture a child’s imagination, such as animal themes and personifications. These props encourage kids’ curiosity, and they often view them with wonder, which reduces their anxiety about the dental procedure.

3.          Use positive reinforcement

Use positive reinforcement and praise your young patients for good behaviour. Highlight that teeth care is a shared responsibility between young patients and their dentists. Simple ways involve praising the child after completing a dental procedure and using motivational tokens or stickers as rewards for their patience during the entire outcome.

4.          Align procedures with a child’s development

Pedodontists understand kids’ developmental stages at different ages and framework procedures that are appropriate for each phase. For instance, they may use other anxiety-reducing techniques for a four-year-old instead of a ten-year-old due to the vast difference in cognition ability. Similarly, general dentists must know how to communicate with children of different ages, use relevant props and methods that suit their cognitive ability, and empathise with them, reducing anxiety levels and promoting enthusiasm towards dental procedures.

5.          Providing education for parents

Educate parents on maintaining good oral hygiene and preventing tooth decay in children. You can also provide education for parents in your general practice. By explaining why brushing, flossing, and regular dental visits are essential for children’s oral health, you can help parents understand the importance of good oral hygiene.

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