Restraints In Pediatric Dentistry
Posted by writeradmin
I took my daughter in to see a pediatric dentist for the first time and as I was reading the paperwork there was a bit of a hullabaloo because a child was screaming from the back. That did not help my daughter feel any better about her appointment. The mother ran to the back and then there was more yelling. Apparently, they had the woman’s son strapped down. The mother was furious, as I would be. We left. Now I feel like I need to do some research about these dentists. Why in the world would any dentist strap down a child?
Beverly
Dear Beverly,
When it comes to pediatric dental care, there are two types of restraints. The first, pictured above, is an image of different sized mouth props. This type every children’s dentist should be using regularly. This is prevents the child from accidentally biting down during their treatment. This protects the child.
I have a colleague who told me an experience he had in dental school. One of his fellow dental student’s was doing a routine filling on a baby tooth, during their pediatric rotation. Sometime during the procedure the child bit down. Because he was not using a prop, the drill ended up going through the pulp of the tooth. Now what would have been a simple fix of a cavity turned into a pulpotomy, which is the child’s equivalent of a root canal treatment. Then, it is topped with a stainless steel crown.
This could have been so easily prevented.
What Is a Papoose Board?
The type of restraint you are referring to is likely a papoose board. This should not be regularly used. In fact, it should only be used as a last resort. There are times it is necessary. If a child has a dental emergency, they have to get treatment. An untreated tooth infection, is dangerous and can turn life threatening. In fact, five to ten people die from them every year.
Generally, when a child is in pain they are scared and uncooperative. Even then, most of the time, a dentist skilled in working with children can get them to calm down and cooperate. Every once in a while, though, that is not possible. When that happens a papoose board can do wonders for a child. It doesn’t hurt. Instead, it hugs the child. Most calm down almost immediately when in one. It allows the child’s dentist to do the work the child desperately needs in safety. for both of them.
One of the best things you can do to prevent something like this and make sure your daughter does not need urgent dental care is to make sure she gets regular dental care before she needs urgent dental care. This way her experiences with the dentist will be positive and she will not be afraid, though I’m sure that lobby experience was frightening.
This blog is brought to you by Arnold, MD Dentist Dr. Meredith Esposito.