paeds dentistry Flashcards
A 2-year-old attends your surgery with his mother. She is concerned by the appearance of his upper teeth.
There is caries in the following teeth: 54 52 51 61 62 64 84 74
What diagnostic name would you give to this caries distribution?
early childhood or nursing bottle
(max incisors, 1st molars, mandibular canines)
Why are the specified teeth affected in this distribution of early childhood caries (ECC), and not others? (3 marks)
lower incisors are protected by tongue
affected teeth are first to erupt
position = get bathed during bottle feeding
difficulty cleaning posterior teeth
the lower incisors are spared from decay as they are physically protected by the nursing position of the child’s tongue.
if the habit continues, the other teeth (mandibular canines and all of the first primary molars) will be subjected to the cariogenic challenge in sequence with their eruption order.
List FOUR causes of the ECC. (2 marks)
prolonged bottle feeding
bottles at night
milk used as pacifier during the day
poor OH
high sugar/acid diet
transmission of streptococcus mutant from caregivers or family members
What fluoride regime could you follow in the dental surgery setting for this child?
(2 marks)
topical fluoride - duraphat - 22,600 ppm - 2.26% sodium fluoride
0.5 mg fluoride toothpaste - use a smear
silver diamine fluoride
ip discing
strip crowns for primary ants
List FOUR of the recommendations you would make regarding tooth brushing for this patient.
(2 marks)
brush twice a day, after breakfast and before bedtime
small headed toothbrush with soft bristles
supervised brushing until 7 years old at least
brush for at least 2 minutes
spit don’t rinse
use a smear of toothpaste
A very anxious 6-year-old child attends your surgery for the first time. The child is not in pain.
Following examination, you note a number of problems. The treatment items you decide on are listed in the table below in the WRONG order.
- Using the numbers 1 to 8 indicate your sequence of treatment.
Lower primary molar requiring pulp therapy
Occlusal restoration on an upper molar requiring local anaesthesia
Application of fluoride varnish
Extraction of upper primary molar
Small occlusal restoration requiring no local anaesthesia
Oral hygiene instruction and dietary advice
Interproximal restoration on a lower primary molar requiring local anaesthesia
Fissure sealants
Oral hygiene instruction and dietary advice
Application of fluoride varnish
Fissure sealant
Small occlusal restoration requiring no local anesthesia
Occlusal restoration on an upper molar requiring local anesthesia
Interproximal restoration on a lower primary molar requiring local anesthesia
Lower primary molar requiring pulp therapy
Extraction of upper primary molar
- Name TWO aspects of the child’s behaviour during treatment which would confirm they remain dentally anxious. (2 marks)
physical signs = trembling, sweating, fidgeting, increased heart rate
verbal cues = crying, whimpering, asking questions, telling you no, not opening mouth
A 4-year-old child is brought to your surgery complaining of severe pain and sleep loss for the last six weeks. The child is a new patient to your practice. On extraoral examination you notice that the child has bruising on their right cheek and a small abrasion on their right temple (see photograph above).
- What might you be concerned about as a result of seeing this child?
(1 mark)
child abuse and neglect
- Which TWO parts of this presentation led you to have concerns regarding this?
Severe pain and sleep loss lasting for six weeks, indicating chronic untreated dental issues.
Bruising on the right cheek and a small abrasion on the right temple, which could suggest physical trauma.
- Suggest TWO questions which you would ask next to further investigate your concerns? (2 marks)
“Can you tell me more about how your child sustained the bruising on their cheek and the abrasion on their temple?”
“Has your child experienced any other injuries or accidents recently?”
- You decide that some aspect of the response to these questions warrants further action. Who should you discuss this with?
(1 mark)
discuss them with the appropriate authorities, such as a designated child protection officer or social services.
refer by phone, then follow up in writing
facts statements of concerns
- As a result of this onward discussion what THREE different courses of action may take place?
(3 marks)
If immediate danger = child protection order by sheriff order
exclusion order
child assessment order
removal by police
otherwise = investigation, initial assessment, discussion
decide the risk
then no action or joint investigation
- You establish the only concern is regarding dental caries. After ensuring the painful tooth is treated you tell the parent that the child has a number of other carious teeth requiring attention and make two appointments for them to come back. The parent fails to bring the child back for either of these appointments. What should you do next?
(1 mark)
it’s important to follow up with the parent to remind them of the importance of dental treatment for their child’s health.
this could involve sending reminders via phone call, text message, or mail, and offering support or assistance to address any barriers preventing them from attending appointments.
if repeated attempts to contact the parent are unsuccessful, it may be necessary to involve social services or other appropriate authorities to ensure the child receives necessary dental care and to address any underlying issues contributing to the lack of follow-through on appointments.
A 9-year-old poorly co-operative child attends your surgery with gross caries evident clinically in teeth 16, 36 and 46. The prognosis of these teeth is poor and they require extraction. All other teeth are caries free.
- What special investigation would be appropriate for this patient?
OPT radiograph
What information are you ideally looking for to establish the suitability of the timing of these extractions?
(2 marks)
dental development stage
MH
behavioural assessment - whether they will coop for LA or need GA
whether there is pain or infection associated
stage of eruption of 7s
stages of calcification of 7s
presence of 8s
degree of crowding
malocclusion type
condition of other teeth
hypodontia
