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CHAPTER XXXVIII.

MANAGEMENT OF CHILDREN'S TEETH.

The inanagement of children's teeth presents two difficulties ad-
ditional to the management of the teeth of adults.
The First Difficulty and many times the most important is the
management of the child. Children are very susceptible to exter-
nal influence and even when quite young believe all they hear.
The conversation of the older ones about the home pertaining to
the "horrors" of the dental office, has many times so poisoned the
mind of the child that it prejudges the dentist and his efforts to
the extent of preferring any other punishment rather than meet
the dentist, even for an examination.
The First Visit of a Child should be made one, wherein there is
an entire absence of pain, or even inconvenience on the part of the
child.
Such visits should be repeated till absolute confidence has been
secured. After this has been thoroughly established, the children
of a clientele will prove as easily managed as the adults, and in
after years are the most tenacious patrons, seldom changing their
dentist through life.
The Second Difficulty with the management of deciduous teeth
is the comparatively short life of the most careful operations. The
teeth are themselves but temporary. All about them is a panorama
of change and Ave can hope at best for only temporary results.
Parents should be given to understand this feature of the services
and not be led to misjudge the skill of an operator by the results
of operations on the teeth of children.
Early Attention is imperative and the keynote to success. All
small enamel defects should be sought out and fillings made as
soon as such are found to exist. It is hopeless to attempt the sal-
vage of deciduous teeth after the pulps have become involved and
subdental disorders have been established.
Oral Hygiene With Children should be established early. The
parents should receive thorough instructions as to the use of -the
toothbrush, with or without a dentifrice, as the child prefers, and
a daily attention established by the time the full temporary den-
ture is erupted.
Frequent Visits to the Dentist are essential; even more than
with adults, as the destructive process runs a rapid course when
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