Pediatric Dentistry for the General Practitioner

Course Description

Tooth decay remains the number one most common disease of childhood, and there are more children than there are pediatric dentists to see them. General dentists play a critical role in screening, prevention, and early intervention to help ensure a lifetime of healthy smiles for pediatric patients. This course will review the core concepts of pediatric dentistry to enhance the general practitioner’s understanding of caries management for children including infant screening, lap exams, behavior management basics, risk assessment, prevention, minimally invasive treatments, and when to refer to a specialist. This course will help increase your confidence as a team player in improving oral health for all from an early age.

Course Objectives:

• Pediatric dental screening
• Infant lap exam
• Behavior management techniques
• Caries risk assessment
• Anticipatory guidance and parent education
• Nutritional counseling
• Fluoride varnish application
• Dental sealant placement
• Silver diamine fluoride
• Atraumatic restorative treatment
• Red flags including abuse, neglect, airway, tethered oral tissue
• When to refer to a pediatric dentist, orthodontist, and/or other allied health professional