Dental trauma in the paediatric patient can be daunting for the general dental practitioner. Employing effective behaviour management alongside timely treatment while following international guidelines can substantially improve outcomes for this patient cohort. This article aims to support and guide practitioners in the assessment and acute management of traumatic dental injuries. CPD/Clinical Relevance: General dental practitioners should be aware of evidence-based trauma protocols, as they may be the first point of contact.
Children's cooperation in the dental chair is shaped by predictability and trust. Fear commonly presents as avoidance or misbehaviour but these are often adaptive safety responses. Evidence shows that therapeutic play and preparation can reduce anxiety, improve engagement and can be used as a structured clinical tool for explanation, rehearsal, meaningful choice and co-regulation. While play is often misunderstood as distraction, this paper translates core therapeutic play principles into practical communication strategies via a team-based framework, suitable for general and specialist dental settings. Guidance is provided on coaching parents, supporting neurodivergent children and ending appointments in ways that protect future attendance. Reframing communication with children as a core clinical skill rather than an innate personality trait positions it as an essential competency in paediatric dentistry. It is a skill that can be learned, developed, refined and embedded into everyday practice to improve outcomes for children, families and clinicians alike. CPD/Clinical Relevance: A play-informed, psychologically grounded communication approach in a dental setting enhances child cooperation and reduces anxiety.
Preventable oral disease remains common, unequal and costly; hospital and community teams frequently encounter children who are at heightened oral risk, including those who are medically complex. Oral health should be integrated into paediatric healthcare and Mini Mouth Care Matters (Mini MCM) is a practical, transdisciplinary framework for doing this; it is supported by the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. Mini MCM equips non-dental professionals with a shared language, training, assessment/recording tools and escalation pathways so that mouth care becomes routine alongside other safety-critical care processes. Embedding a simple assessment with red–amber–green escalation, supported by oral health champions and strong links to local dental services, can improve consistency of mouth care and help address unmet need across the child health pathway. CPD/Clinical Relevance: Clinicians should be aware of the key components of Mini Mouth Care Matters and their application.
Dental caries is the most common oral disease affecting young people nationwide and growing socio-economic inequalities have increased barriers to good oral health while demand for dental care is rising. Dental professionals can be proactive in preventing and managing caries and also engage with opportunities to advocate on behalf of children and young people. A sustainable approach, involving a wide range professionals who work with children and families, is needed to overcome complex barriers, tackle oral health inequalities, promote lifelong oral health and reduce the care burden on the NHS. CPD/Clinical Relevance: Clinicians should be aware of practical opportunities to support families in improving oral health outcomes.
Safeguarding children and young people is a shared responsibility for all members of the dental team and encompasses the recognition, recording of and response to safeguarding concerns. This paper provides an update on the types of abuse that may be encountered in dental practice, highlighting key clinical features the dental team may observe. It also offers practical guidance on responding to concerns, aiming to develop confidence, aid clinical judgement, and promote a consistent and effective approach to safeguarding within the dental setting. CPD/Clinical Relevance: How to recognize, record and respond to safeguarding concerns regarding children and young people is essential for clinicians.
