Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry
Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry tests child behavior, caries in primary teeth, preventive care, trauma, and space management. Questions often ask for the safest, least invasive option first.
Core rules
- Early childhood caries affects primary maxillary incisors first; mandibular incisors are often spared because of salivary clearance.
- Fluoride varnish is a professional topical preventive agent; it is not a substitute for dietary control.
- Pulpotomy removes coronal pulp and preserves radicular pulp; pulpectomy removes all pulp and is used when radicular pulp is infected.
- Space maintainers preserve arch length after premature primary tooth loss.
- Tell-show-do is a basic behavior guidance technique.
Worked example
A 3-year-old has multiple carious maxillary anterior teeth and a bottle at bedtime. The diagnosis is early childhood caries. The reasoning is the typical pattern: maxillary incisors are bathed in fermentable fluid during sleep, while mandibular incisors are protected by tongue and saliva. Management includes behavior guidance, caries control, fluoride varnish, restoration or extraction as needed, and parental counseling to stop the bedtime bottle.
Traps
- Do not give aspirin to children with fever or pain because of Reye syndrome risk.
- Fluoride toothpaste amount should be age-appropriate; too much increases fluorosis risk.
- Primary teeth are not disposable; premature loss can cause crowding.
- Do not use a space maintainer when the permanent successor is about to erupt.