Definitions and scope of pediatric dentistry (AAPD)
Pediatric dentistry is an age-defined specialty that provides both primary and comprehensive preventive and therapeutic oral health care for infants and children through adolescence, including those with special health care needs.
To become a pediatric dental specialist, a dentist must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 3 years course in an advanced education program (M.D.S or equivalent). The curriculum of an advanced program provides the dentist with necessary didactic background and clinical experiences to provide comprehensive primary oral health care and the services of a specialist. Pediatric dentists provide care, conduct research, and teach in a variety of clinical and institutional settings, including private practice and public health. They work in coordination with other health care providers and members of social disciplines for the benefit of children.
The primary focus of most dental specialties is a particular area of dental, oral, or maxillofacial expertise. Pediatric dentistry encompasses a variety of disciplines, techniques, procedures, and skills that share a common basis with other specialties, but are modified and adapted to the unique requirements of infants, children, adolescents, and those with special health care needs. By being an age-specific specialty, pediatric dentistry encompasses disciplines such as behavior guidance, care of the medically and developmentally compromised and special health care needs patient, supervision of orofacial growth and development, prevention of oral diseases like dental caries and periodontal diseases using non pharmacological behavior guidance techniques as well as advanced pharmacological techniques like conscious sedation and general anesthesia and hospital dentistry, as well as other traditional fields of dentistry. These skills are applied to take care of the needs of children throughout the stages of their physical and psychological development and to treat conditions and diseases unique to growing individuals.
Nepalese ASSOCIATION OF PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY (NAPD)
The Nepalese Association of Pediatric Dentistry (NAPD) is a national association specifically concerned with the oral health care needs of children in Nepal. It is a nonprofit organization of individuals (Pediatric Dentists) primarily concerned with area(s) of practice, education and research related to the field of Pediatric Dentistry working together for benefit of child’s oral health in Nepal. It aims to improve oral health in children all over Nepal and encourages clinical care to be as accessible as possible throughout the nation. NAPD has 24 Life Members till date.
It caters to a variety of populations with the goal of building healthy communities of children and with a vision that oral health is the key to general health and quality of life.
EMBLEM
The emblem is a conglomeration of many components. The core of the emblem contains a triangle that is based on the widely accepted Pedodontic Triangle which was introduced by G.Z. Wright (1975) and is used universally in the field of Pediatric Dentistry. The three corners of the triangle depicts the Child, Parent and the Dentist. The child being the focus of the treatment is kept at the apex of the triangle.
Inside the triangle is the Staff of Aesculapius which is taken from Greek Mythology and represents the Greek God Asclepius, a deity associated with healing and medicine. The symbol has been adopted widely globally as a symbol of healing in health sector. The staff of Aesculapius stands of captor of authority and represents the professional authority of association. The serpents show the power of healing since serpents ages back have been used for healing. Hippocrates adopted this symbol and we have adopted it with two serpents entwined around the staff in opposite directions. An addition in this symbol is the presence of a mother cradling her child at the top of the symbol. The mother holding the child signifies protection and fundamental right of every child to their total oral health care. A map of Nepal is another component in the center and that represents this association has solemn responsibility towards maintaining positive dental health of the children through prevention, involvement of the community and other necessary measures throughout the country.
Objectives
- Foster friendship, co-operation and co-existence amongst the members of the Association and formulate schemes for the social security of members of the Association.
- Promote, encourage and advance Pediatric Dentistry as a responsible specialized association in Nepal.
- Contribute in the progress and promotion of the oral health care of children while encouraging more research in this field.
- Strengthen co-operation among themselves as well form global relationships with other nations on matters of common interest related to Pediatric dentistry.
- Make provision for patient/parent education, including anticipatory guidance for oral health promotion and prevention of oral disease in children in Nepal.
- To arrange scientific meetings and summit for keeping abreast with the recent research, advancement in treatment protocols as well as introduction to latest technology in Pediatric Dentistry.
- Extend cooperative or collaborative assistance to individuals, groups or organizations, nationally as well as internationally, who share similar goals, ideals and objectives.
Goals
- To meet the basic as well as comprehensive, preventive and therapeutic oral health need of infants, children, adolescents and patients with special care needs.
- To collaborate in multidisciplinary teams concerned with the welfare of children.
- To promote research in all aspects of Pediatric Dentistry and dissemination of knowledge in child’s oral health..
Mission
This body mission is to work in creating a path and working towards a disease free and healthy community for holistic development for all children in Nepal. The society aims towards the provision of optimal oral care to the pediatric population while maintaining the highest standards of ethics.