Over the past 20 years there has been an increasing demand for dental treatment for children. At present about a quarter of the dental resources of Britain is spent on the treatment of those under the age of sixteen. This expenditure makes it imperative to consider carefully what is to be achieved with this treatment. A popular demand for a dental service is arguably sufficient justification for its provision. However, modern dentistry goes further than merely answering a popular demand; it attempts to create in the population an awareness of the benefits of oral health.
Before an efficient service can be established for any group of patients, the dentist must be clear about what is to be achieved. Once general aims have been established, many of he problems
of treatment planning become more easily resolved, and work takes on a purpose towards which treatment can be directed. Aims are general concepts of what must be achieved. In order that an individual patient may benefit they must be expressed as precise objectives that are turned into specific items of treatment. It is important that these aims are kept to the forefront and reviewed in the light of personal experience and the wisdom of others.
There are two problems to consider when supplying a service of any kind to children. The first is to determine what is best for the child at that moment, and the second what is best for the adult into whom the child will eventually grow. Until recently in our society the child received little consideration. Efforts were always channeled towards turning him into a useful adult. Childhood was merely a preliminary to growing up and the end justified the means. Today it is realized that a child, as a human being, has a right to expect as much consideration as any other person, and this is no less than in dentistry than in other spheres of life.
A child's teeth are as important to him as an adult's. We must not fall into the error of thinking that this is not so merely because he is unable to express his needs or desires. A functioning dentition is desirable during a period of rapid growth and development. It is also apparent that appearance is important through a wish to resemble other children.
As the child win eventually gain adulthood, the purpose should be to look forward to that time and prepare the child to meet it. What is required is a happy compromise between the present needs of the child on the one hand and the future dental health of the adult on the other. If this premise is acceptable, then what should be the aims that guide our everyday work?
Our first aim should be the health of the child as a whole. Although as dentists we are more obviously responsible for the health of the masticator apparatus, in the broader sense we are part of a health team concerned with the total individual. A dentist, receiving regular visits from apparently healthy people, is in a good position to watch for early signs of disease. Moreover, while treating children he is able to study growth and development of the whole individual, and to refer the patient for advice and treatment if this is necessary. In this way, he has the opportunity of assisting in maintaining a child' s general health and well being.
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