Pediatric Dentistry Review

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to pediatric dentistry, aimed at helping students understand treatment relationships, behavior management, developmental stages, and common dental procedures encountered in children.

Pediatric Dentist

A dentist who specializes in treating infants, children, and adolescents, typically requiring an additional two years of residency training.

Pedodontics

The branch of dentistry that deals with children and their dental care.

Scope of Treatment

Focuses on preventative and therapeutic oral health care for infants, children, and adolescents, including special needs patients.

Prevention

A core emphasis in pediatric dentistry, focusing on early detection, diagnosis, and treatment to avoid future dental issues.

Mental Age

The level of maturity of a child, regardless of their chronological age, which may vary significantly.

Emotional Age

The level of emotional development in a child, which can differ from their chronological and mental age.

Chronological Age

A child's actual age measured from their birth date.

Open Bay Concept

A design in pediatric dental offices where operatories are not separated by walls, promoting a friendly and less intimidating environment.

Nitrous Oxide

A sedative used in dentistry to help manage anxiety in children, commonly monitored by dental assistants.

Modeling Behavior

A technique where children observe peers undergoing dental procedures to encourage calmness and compliance.

Tell, Show, Do

A behavior management technique in pediatric dentistry where the dentist explains, demonstrates, and then performs the procedure.

Subjective Fears

Fears developed by children based on suggestions from parents or peers.

Objective Fears

Fears based on the child's own experiences, particularly from previous negative encounters with dental procedures.

Pulpotomy

A dental procedure that involves removing the top of the pulp from a tooth to treat infection, leaving the nerve intact.

Stainless Steel Crown (SSC)

A metal crown used to cover and protect a primary tooth, often used after procedures like pulpotomy.

Avulsion

The complete displacement of a tooth from its socket, typically due to trauma.

Intrusion

When a tooth is pushed up into the gum and socket, often caused by injury.

Extrusion

The partial displacement of a tooth from its socket.

Hematoma

A localized swelling filled with blood resulting from a break in a blood vessel, which can occur after an injection.

Space Maintainer

A dental device used to hold the space for a permanent tooth after a primary tooth has fallen out.

Baby Bottle Syndrome

A condition where prolonged exposure to sugary liquids in a bottle leads to severe decay in children's teeth.

Role Reversal

The change in behavior of children when their parents are present during dental treatment, often requiring careful management.

Behavior Management Techniques

Strategies used in pediatric dentistry to help children cope with procedures, including voice control, distraction, and positive reinforcement.