Pulp Therapy and Prevention in Paediatric Dentistry

At the end of this course, students should be able to: 1. recognise symptoms of pulp diseases and accurately diagnose them; 2. draw up appropriate treatment plans; 3. perform simple pulpal treatments; 4. identify and fabricate simple space maintainers; and 5. discuss the definition, aetiology and risk factors for dental caries, and the means by which conditions are prevented.

Considerations during treatment of primary teeth. Treatment options for primary and young permanent teeth. Indications for extraction and types of space maintainers and space retainers. Caries as an environmental disease and its impact on prevention of caries. Role of oral hygiene, diet, fluoride and new restorative materials in the prevention of caries. Risk assessment in the management and prevention of dental caries. Prevention of other conditions in paediatric dentistry (trauma to teeth, medical emergencies.). Dental therapeutics, exodontia in primary and young permanent teeth, pulp therapy including in direct and direct pulp capping. Pulpotomy, pulpectomy, apexification and apexogenesis. Trauma management. Management 247 of space problems. Prevention of dental caries in the child, oral hygiene, diet. Prevention of caries, fluoride and restorative materials. Risk assessment in dentistry. Medical emergencies.