For Doctors
Dental Health Lecture
When given the opportunity to present a short lecture at a prenatal class, the goal of the pediatric dentist is to explain their role in the team effort of the parent, pediatrician and pediatric dentist for the ultimate health of the child. It should be an upbeat, educational presentation explaining the following:
- Primary teeth begin to develop four weeks in utero.
- Secondary teeth begin to form from birth to age eight. Therefore, nutrition is highly important from the time a women knows she wants to conceive until the time of delivery and after if she is breast feeding.
- Slides showing primary teeth, which teeth will erupt first, and how to brush their child's teeth.
- Slides showing neglect of the primary dentition via poor oral hygiene and\or nursing caries.
- Advising parents that the first visit to the dental office should be after the first tooth erupts in the mouth at around the age of six months.
- Brochures from the American Dental Association (ADA) American Dental Association (ADA) and American Society of Dentistry for Children (ASDC) on home care, thumb sucking, diet, oral health and pregnancy, and infant oral health.
- Explain to parents that the first inoculation of bacteria to the child comes from the parents and caretakers. Explain that if their mouth is unhealthy that their child is more apt to have dental decay.
- Understanding about fluoride and its pros and cons.
- The necessity to use the smallest amount of toothpaste if any at all in young children.
- Children can get abscesses and infections from their teeth and oral cavity that can damage permanent teeth and even become life threatening.
- The pediatric dental office can be a fun happy time for a child, especially when all they need is preventative care.
