Specialty Overview

Paediatric Dentistry is unlike any other dental specialty in that it encompases all treatment areas for a particular group of patients: all aspects of oral healthcare for children are included, such as resotrative care, endodontic treatment and prosthetics, minor oral surgical procedures, and interceptive orthodontics.

Paediatric dentists also contribute to mulitdisciplinary care of children with complex medical problems which either impact on oral health, or where oral health issues may affect their general health.

Paediatric dental practice occurs both in high street practices and in hospitals.  The more challenging cases are often referred to hospitals.

Aim

• Improve the oral health care of infants, children and adolescents, through appropriate preventive, educational and treatment services.
• Ensure that individuals and agencies, government and private, are given the relevant information in order to include such specialist care in their decision-making processes.

Training

The Northern Deanery run NHS training programmes in Paediatric Dentistry for both pre and post CCST Specialist Registrars. A joint NHS/Academic Specialist Registrar programme is also run with the Yorkshire Deanery. Particular strengths of training in the northern region include exposure to both hospital and community based paediatric dental services, and children with a wide range of medical problems.