Learn all about humanization in pediatric dentistry

The time has come to visit a pediatric dentist! Lots of research, conversations outside the school, indications of peers who have had treatment before. This is a time of extreme anxiety for children, and for parents! After all, it will be the "first time" of children at the dentist!

Anxiety, fear, curiosity! How will my son behave? Will he open his mouth? Will he cry? The pediatric dentist is the specialist in child care, and masters not only the dental treatment, but also the behavior and psychology that surrounds this moment in the lives of families.

How was the care in pediatric dentistry in the old days?

For decades, dental treatment was "mechanical". The dentist was sought when there was already discomfort, pain and complications. There was not much dialogue, and interpersonal relationships were not strengthened. There was no perception of feelings and no dialogue and conversation to understand what the child was living and what his routine was like. In addition, the family nucleus was not understood and the family's expectations for treatment. The use of restrictive behavior control techniques was very common. Therefore, it made the children of those days today adults afraid of dentists, and fear that this negative experience would be repeated with their children.

Current and transdisciplinary Pediatric Dentistry has a new look.

Today care is based on a unique and special respect for each family. It has integration with other areas of health and aims at the complete well-being of children in all its spheres. Each child is unique, has unique behaviors, unique difficulties, unique situations. Therefore, the pediatric dentist seeks to individualize each of them in their essence, respecting the limits and difficulties. And, above all, reinventing itself in every appointment to be able to welcome the child and create bond.

Humanization, empathy and love!

Humanization of dentistry is this: to offer a special treatment, with welcome, respect and love, allied with a clinical practice based on scientific evidence. Today, it is proven that play is part of child development in the physical, social, cultural, affective, emotional and cognitive aspects.

Play helps build relationships and strengthen children's integration into society. In childcare, the specialist uses playful behavior management resources to build this bridge of trust. The abandonment of the "white coat" is just one of the features of Pediatric Dentistry: today its clothing is colorful and the gloves are colorful and flavored. In addition, your office is adapted to receive the child. Today, the office is full of characters from the cartoons they like, with toys and many colors. In addition, the aroma of the office is also lovingly thought out so as not to bring the “doctor-hospital-vaccine feeling” to the surface of little ones.

These unpleasant memories are called "indirect fear," where the child assimilates the "dental office" with a negative experience he has had in the past. Given this, the pediatric dentist makes every effort to make the care a new and inspiring experience for the child.

Undoubtedly, all this affection with the organization of the office, with the colors, flavors and smells, shows parents that the care was organized and planned to be as special as possible for your child.

But is just a colorful, special and creative environment enough for the child to "open his mouth"?

Not! The specialist in pediatric dentistry should keep up-to-date on techniques, not just handling, but also on materials and treatments that are “fast” for children. At the same time, it is essential that they have scientific evidence of the highest quality to avoid possible retreatment.

After all, keep a firm stance, but, at the same time, full of love, tolerance and therapy based on the best scientific evidence is the sum of success for a masterful treatment! With this humanized character, the mission of pediatric dentistry is to restore oral health and contribute to the formation of healthy and happy children, because happy children build a better world!

Source: Blog Dental Cremer. Available at: https://blog.dentalcremer.com.br/dentista-saiba-como-encantar-os-pequenos/. Access on: 11/21/2019.