pediatric dentistry

Dentists: Do You Treat Kids? (video)

June 7, 2011 By Catherine Hughes Leave a Comment

pediatric dentistry The Wealthy Dentist conducted a survey that asked dentists if they treat pediatric patients.

Pediatric dentistry isn’t as profitable as cosmetic dentistry, but it’s rarely about the money.

Pediatric dentistry is a good thing to do for your community, but only if you like doing it.

“If you treat children like gold, you’ll see their mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, and grandparents as well!” said a Virginia dentist.

Pediatric dental patients can provide a whole new set of family patients. But not all doctors are cut out to be a children’s dentist.

“I break out in hives when I treat anyone under 18!” said an Indiana dentist.

Click on play to watch the survey video and hear the full survey results -

Pediatric Dental Sedation Ruffles Feathers Among Dentists

September 14, 2010 By Julie Frey 8 Comments

Dentists are divided over pediatric dental sedation. Our survey found that half of dentists approve of pediatric sedation dentistry (with proper training, of course), while one in three feels a general dentist should never sedate a child.

“Kids are a different breed from adults when it comes to sedation, and you REALLY have to have thorough training to sedate them,” said one dentist.

Among survey respondents, 54% say it's a great treatment modality that requires proper training; 11% are still am not certain of its safety; and 35% think general dentists should not be performing pediatric sedation.

Here's a sample of what dentists had to say about pediatric dental sedation:

“It is a great way to treat children. However, weekend courses do not give one adequate training to sedate children; one needs to be formally trained.” (Arizona pediatric dentist)
“Proper training and the use of modern equipment are the key.” (California dentist)
“This is the most delicate group of all patients, and the one that GP’s should be very cautious when treated. This also is the group that has the most incidents when sedation is performed.”(Florida dentist)
“It should be done more often.” (Orthodontist)
“Just ask an anesthesiologist. They all say NO!!! No one should!!!” (Massachusetts pediatric dentist)
“I am a pediatric dentist. I used to offer it in my practice. I have stopped since 2004. I recommend that it is used ONLY in a hospital setting.” (Massachusetts pediatric dentist)
“There are a small number of general dentists who will obtain the necessary training to SAFELY provide sedation services for children, but I can't for the life of me understand why they would want to.” (California oral surgeon)
“There is no excuse for inadequate training. You must be on top of your game and realize it is not successful all the time. Still will need a source where pedodontics can be done under a general anesthetic.” (Oklahoma dentist)
“Pediatric sedation should be performed only in a hospital setting and only for special-needs children. The rest of children do great if you will only be patient with them and do 'show and tell.' The most difficult children always, and I mean always, do great and overcome their fear if you give them time and love and show them how trust works.” (California children’s dentist)

Listen to what Dr. Michael Silverman has to say about DOCS Education’s evolving stance on the subject: Dental Continuing Education for Pediatric Sedation

Filed Under: Dental Surveys, Sedation Dentistry Tagged With: children, children's dentistry, conscious sedation, pediatric, pediatric dentistry, sedation dentistry

Kids’ Dental Health Related to Mom’s

June 23, 2010 By Julie Frey 1 Comment

Mothers with untreated tooth decay are twice as likely to have children who do too.

That's according to a new study that was published in the Journal of Dental Research. Researchers at the University of California in San Francisco looked at the oral health of 179 mothers and 389 children.

This highlights the role of parental dental health in pediatric dentistry. In addition, parents may be more likely to treat tooth decay and gum disease if they realize it may negatively impact their children's dental health.

Filed Under: Dental News Tagged With: children, dental health, kids, pediatric dentistry, tooth decay

Your Dentist Is Probably Also a Pediatric Dentist (video)

February 26, 2010 By Julie Frey Leave a Comment

Being a pediatric dentist isn't so different from being a general dentist. In this survey, we found that 86% of dentists say their practices offer pediatric dentistry. Only 14% said they do not treat children under age 14.

“We treat kids, but most of our dental marketing is geared toward adults 35-65," said one dentist. "We don't turn kids away, but we don't encourage them either."

"Family dentistry is more fun!" declared a pediatric dentist. "Dentistry for children leads to orthodontics which leads to wisdom teeth which leads into restorative and cosmetic dentistry."

Filed Under: Dental Videos Tagged With: children's dentistry, family dentist, family dentistry, pediatric dentist, pediatric dentistry, pedodontist

The Pediatric Dentist Protects Kids’ Teeth, Parents’ Freedom

February 16, 2010 By Julie Frey 4 Comments

The pediatric dentist should be a part of every kid's childhood.

And the consequences of avoiding the children's dentist can go far beyond cavities and tooth decay… Just ask the Washington state mother who was convicted in court for not having taken her son to the dentist.

The developmentally disabled 10-year-old boy had more than one abscessed tooth; in court papers, one doctor compared the boy's tooth pain to "being shot with a nail gun."

The boy had several teeth removed. His mother claimed that she had no idea a tooth abscess could be life-threatening, and that she did not have the money to take him to a pediatric dentist.

After a jury trial, she was convicted of second-degree criminal mistreatment.

Read more about this pediatric dentistry case: Mom convicted over lack of dental care for son