57087 - Paedodontics

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of the course, the student possesses foundational knowledge on techniques to support pediatric dentists in managing patients during developmental age. The primary objectives of the course are the acquisition of both theoretical knowledge and practical skills, as well as clinical criteria for the prevention and treatment of dental and oral diseases in developmental age. Specifically, the student will be able to:


- Effectively communicate with the child and their family.
- Understand the development and growth of the craniofacial region.
- Recognize the most common dental and oral diseases in developmental age (caries, dental anomalies, malocclusions, periodontal diseases, mucosal diseases, dental injuries of traumatic origin).
- Understand the correlations between systemic diseases and oral diseases.
- Understand developmental age psychology and practice an appropriate behavioral approach to the therapy of dental and oral diseases.
- Know the prevention of dental and oral diseases and utilize motivational, informational, and educational techniques.
- Interpret clinical signs and instrumental examinations for effective orthopedic-orthodontic prevention.
- Develop a proper treatment plan for carious lesions, pulp diseases, and periapical diseases of primary and permanent teeth.
- Manage pain and anxiety control in pediatric dentistry, having acquired specific knowledge in the field of local anesthesia, conscious sedation, and general anesthesia.
- Administer appropriate pharmacological therapy for dental and oral diseases in developmental age, having acquired specific knowledge of medications that can be prescribed in this age group.
- Manage and prevent dento-alveolar injuries of traumatic origin.
- Develop an appropriate treatment plan for surgical conditions, having acquired knowledge in special surgery for developmental age.

Course contents

For the Degree Course in Dentistry and Dental Prosthetics, the contents will include:

• Management of the pediatric patient and their family in the dental setting.

• The first dental visit in childhood.

• Promotion of oral health in childhood (healthy nutrition, home oral hygiene, use of topical and systemic fluoride, periodic check-ups, sealants).

• Dental pain in children.

• Pain management in the dental setting for pediatric patients. Local anesthesia in childhood. Conscious sedation in childhood.

• Caries in primary teeth, with particular reference to Early Childhood Caries (ECC): etiology, diagnosis, treatment.

• Enamel defects, with particular reference to Molar-Incisor Hypomineralization (MIH): etiology, diagnosis, and treatment.

• Pulpal and periradicular pathologies of endodontic origin in primary teeth: etiology, diagnosis, treatment.

• Traumatic dental injuries in primary and permanent teeth.

• Radiological risk in childhood.

• Temporomandibular disorders in childhood.

For the Degree Course in Dental Hygiene, the contents will include:

• Management of the pediatric patient and their family in the dental setting.

• The first dental visit in childhood.

• Promotion of oral health in childhood (healthy nutrition, home oral hygiene, use of topical and systemic fluoride, periodic check-ups, sealants).

• Dental pain in children.

• Etiological and diagnostic aspects related to caries in primary teeth, with particular reference to Early Childhood Caries (ECC) and major enamel defects, with particular reference to Molar-Incisor Hypomineralization (MIH).

 

Readings/Bibliography

Scientific articles and schemes useful for exam preparation will be provided during the course.

Supplementary readings:

Handbook of Pediatric Dentistry. Angus C. Cameron, Richard P. Widmer. Elsevier Health Sciences , 2021.

Teaching methods

Lectures. To facilitate the learning of theoretical concepts and operational aspects covered during the course, in-class simulations of clinical cases will be conducted. During these sessions, students will be required to outline an approach to the child and their family, with particular focus on communication skills, while also formulating a diagnosis and a treatment plan. This interactive format allows students to engage more concretely with the practical application of the knowledge acquired, progressively developing familiarity with the procedures and techniques involved in managing pediatric patients and their families in a dental setting, with the aim of preparing them for real clinical dynamics.

Assessment methods

The final assessment consists of an oral examination aimed at evaluating the achievement of the competencies outlined in the course learning objectives. Students are expected to demonstrate their ability to synthesize, analyze, and critically evaluate the topics covered during the lectures. Attendance plays a crucial role in supporting the learning process.

The maximum achievable grade is 30 with honors (“cum laude”), while the minimum passing grade is 18/30.

The final grade will be calculated as a weighted average of the results obtained in the different components of the Integrated Course (C.I.) of Pediatric Dentistry, with the respective course credits serving as weights.

Final grade scale:

• Knowledge limited to a very small number of topics covered in the course, with analytical skills emerging only with the examiner’s guidance, and overall correct language → 18–19;

• Knowledge of a limited number of topics covered in the course, with autonomous analytical skills only on purely operational aspects, and correct language → 20–24;

• Knowledge of a broad range of topics covered in the course, ability to make autonomous choices for critical analysis, and mastery of specific terminology → 25–29;

• Comprehensive and in-depth knowledge of the topics covered in the course, ability to make autonomous choices for critical analysis and connections, full mastery of specific terminology, and ability to argue and self-reflect → 30–30L.

Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

- Slides featuring clinical case images and schematic representations.

- Clinical guidelines available online.

- Selection of scientific articles.

Office hours

See the website of Serena Incerti Parenti