Jul. 8, 2016
NEW HAVEN – Citing a new demand and its solution that addresses the nation’s most vulnerable populations, the American Dental Association (ADA) recently announced a new dental specialty, Pediatric Prosthodontics.
“Partial edentulism is a debilitating condition. We know it affects millions of American adults, but a paradigm shift in the field revealed that it also affects virtually every child in the country,” said Dr. Selina Xu, the director of the nation’s first CODA-accredited Pediatric Prosthodontics residency program at Yale Dental School.
“How did we not realize this epidemic earlier? I don’t know. But the more we think about it, the more it makes sense. The idea is simple and minimalist. To make removable partial dentures every 6-12 months, just like taking bitewing radiographs, to accommodate kids’ growing jaws.”
Evidence-based dentistry points out that newborns are completely edentulous and may even benefit from complete dentures. Initial research from Dr. Xu’s laboratory suggests this allows for precocious mastication and speech development. She did warn, however, that mothers should remove their newborn’s dentures prior to breastfeeding.
Not surprisingly, parents around the country are sharing their vocal support of the tenth dental specialty recognized by the ADA.
“My neighbor asked me the other day if my little boy got hit in the face with a baseball. I was too embarrassed to say anything. I can’t wait to bring my son to a certified Pediatric Prosthodontist to get his first set of dentures,” wrote mother Susan Sarno in a passionate letter to the editor of JADA supporting the pediatric prosthodontics revolution.
Inspired by the flippers worn by her niece at a local child beauty pageant, and by the new dentures worn by her great aunt made specifically for her funeral, Dr. Xu put two and two together and quickly established the groundwork for Yale’s Pediatric Prosthodontics residency program.
"Children are our future. And no future is complete without teeth. I am thrilled to lead the field of dentistry into a new era where we can address the needs of millions of children and deliver them optimal oral health. I am confident the phrase ‘denture home’ will be soon be synonymous with dental home."
In fact, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) just released new guidelines written specifically for pediatric prosthodontists.
Complete dentures should be fabricated no more than one month after birth. Removable partial dentures should then be fabricated on a semi-annual to annual basis beginning from 6 months of age when the primary central incisors erupt until the full permanent dentition erupts.
