It is a branch of dentistry related to dental medical treatment provided to children from birth to approximately 36 months of age with the aim of maintaining oral health while at the same time creating a positive attitude for parents and children about dentistry.[1][2] Although interest in infant dental treatment emerged at the beginning of the 20th century, the dental community has only recently begun to focus on this area of dentistry due to the significant increase in dental caries and prevalence among young children. The first place to provide dental services exclusively for infants began in 1986 at the State University of Londrina (Brazil),[3] where the concept of early treatment of dental caries and its consequences led to attention to the path of educational prevention. These concepts have been spread throughout the country by introducing new clinics adopting the same philosophy as the Infant Clinic of the Aracatuba Dental School of the University of São Paulo (UNESP),[4] and abroad as well.
Objectives
Infant Dentistry aims to provide dental assistance for children from 0-3 years of age through preventive oral health education programs aimed at parents and children that include diagnosis, prevention and treatment of the most common medical conditions at this age (tooth decay, dental trauma, changes in tooth development, etc.) .
Holding parental meetings
In the Infant Clinic of the Dental College of Aracatoba, parents are asked to register their children from birth to 6 months of age. Before the first medical session, the parents attend a lecture that gives general information about:
Oral health in the context of holistic health
The importance of milk teeth
Non-food sucking habits (thumb and pacifier)
Dental trauma: what to do when it occurs
Dental caries as a disease and the possibility of its prevention
Dental caries in early childhood
Prevention of tooth decay
Occupational therapy versus home care
How does the infant clinic work?
These meetings are held periodically. At the end of it, it will be clear to parents how to clean the infant’s mouth and use a fluoride-rich solution. After that, the first appointment is made with the infant.
