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

- Management of pediatric patients and their families in the dental environment.


- Development and growth of the craniofacial region. Primary and permanent dentition. Deciduous, mixed, and permanent dentition. Dental anomalies in number, shape, structure, and position.


- The first dental visit during developmental age.


- The pediatric dental chart.


- Promotion of oral health in developmental age (healthy diet, home oral hygiene, use of topical and systemic fluoride, periodic visits, sealants).


- Dental pain in children.


- Pain management in the dental environment during developmental age. Local anesthesia in developmental age. Conscious sedation in developmental age.


- Carious pathology of primary teeth, with particular reference to Early Childhood Caries (ECC).


- Pulpal and periradicular pathologies of endodontic origin in primary teeth: etiology, diagnosis, therapies.


- Traumatic dental injuries in primary and permanent teeth.


- How to conduct a literature search.


- How to read a scientific article.


- What a systematic review is and how to read it.

Readings/Bibliography

Polimeni, A. (2019). Odontoiatria Pediatrica. Edra - Masson.

Scientific articles presented during the lectures.

Teaching methods

Lectures with PowerPoint presentations.

Assessment methods

Final oral exam.

Teaching tools

Reading of scientific articles.

Office hours

See the website of Serena Incerti Parenti