Comparing Lingual Braces and External Options

Comparing Lingual Braces and External Options

Types of Malocclusions: Overview of common types such as overbite, underbite, and crossbite in pediatric patients.

When considering orthodontic treatment for children, one of the options that often comes up is lingual braces. Unlike traditional braces, which are placed on the front of the teeth, lingual braces are fixed to the back, making them virtually invisible from the outside. This unique positioning can offer several benefits, especially for children who might be self-conscious about their appearance during the critical years of adolescence.


One of the primary advantages of lingual braces for children is the aesthetic appeal. Since the braces are placed on the inside of the teeth, they are not visible when a child smiles, talks, or laughs. This can significantly boost a child's confidence and self-esteem, as they do not have to worry about the appearance of metal braces during important social and school events.


In addition to the aesthetic benefits, lingual braces can also be effective in correcting a wide range of orthodontic issues. Orthodontic appliances guide the proper growth of the jaw Kids' dental alignment services orthodontics. They can address problems such as overcrowding, gaps between teeth, and misalignments, just as effectively as traditional braces. For children, this means they can achieve a straighter, healthier smile without the visual impact of external braces.


Another benefit of lingual braces is the level of customization they offer. Each set of lingual braces is custom-made to fit the unique contours of a child's teeth, ensuring maximum comfort and efficiency. This tailored approach can make the orthodontic experience more comfortable and less intrusive for children, who may be more sensitive to discomfort than adults.


However, it's important to consider that lingual braces may require a period of adjustment. Initially, children might experience some difficulty with speech or tongue irritation due to the placement of the braces. Yet, with time and practice, most children adapt well, and these issues typically resolve on their own.


In conclusion, lingual braces present a compelling option for children's orthodontic treatment. They offer the dual benefits of effective teeth straightening and a discreet appearance, which can be particularly appealing during the formative years of childhood and adolescence. While they may come with a slight learning curve, the advantages they provide in terms of aesthetics and personalized care make them a worthwhile consideration for parents looking to support their child's orthodontic journey.

When considering orthodontic treatments for children, parents often explore various external options to help correct misaligned teeth and improve their child's smile. Among the most common external orthodontic options available for kids are traditional metal braces, ceramic braces, and clear aligners. Each of these options has its unique features and benefits, making them suitable for different needs and preferences.


Traditional metal braces are perhaps the most well-known orthodontic treatment. They consist of metal brackets bonded to the teeth and connected by wires and elastic bands. These braces are highly effective at correcting a wide range of dental issues, including crowded teeth, gaps, and bite problems. Though they are quite noticeable, many children embrace the look and even personalize their braces with colorful bands.


Ceramic braces offer a more aesthetically pleasing alternative to metal braces. They work similarly but use clear or tooth-colored brackets and wires, making them less visible. This option is popular among older children and teenagers who are more conscious about their appearance. However, ceramic braces may be more prone to staining and require diligent care to maintain their appearance.


Clear aligners, such as Invisalign, represent a modern and nearly invisible orthodontic solution. These custom-made, removable trays gradually shift teeth into the desired position. They are particularly appealing to kids who are responsible enough to wear them for the recommended 22 hours a day and to clean them properly. Clear aligners are ideal for mild to moderate alignment issues and offer the added benefit of being removable for eating and brushing.


In comparison to lingual braces, which are placed on the inside of the teeth, these external options are generally more accessible and easier to maintain. While lingual braces offer the advantage of being hidden from view, external options are often more comfortable and less costly. When choosing the best orthodontic treatment for a child, it's essential to consider factors such as the severity of the dental issues, the child's age and maturity, and the family's budget. Consulting with an orthodontist can help parents make an informed decision that aligns with their child's needs and preferences.

Early Detection and Diagnosis: The importance of regular dental check-ups for identifying malocclusions in children.

When considering orthodontic treatments, patients often weigh the comfort and aesthetics of their options, particularly when choosing between lingual braces and external braces. Lingual braces, which are placed on the inner surface of the teeth, and external braces, which are more traditionally placed on the outer surface, both aim to straighten teeth but offer different experiences in terms of comfort and visual appeal.


Starting with aesthetics, lingual braces have a clear advantage. They are virtually invisible from the outside, making them an attractive choice for individuals concerned about the appearance of their braces. This hidden placement allows patients to undergo orthodontic treatment without the self-consciousness that can come with visible braces. On the other hand, external braces, while effective, are noticeably visible and can affect a patient's confidence, especially in social or professional settings. Some external braces can be less conspicuous with the use of clear or tooth-colored materials, but they still do not match the near-invisibility of lingual braces.


In terms of comfort, the experience can vary significantly between the two types of braces. Lingual braces, due to their placement on the tongue side of the teeth, can initially feel more intrusive. They may cause temporary speech impediments and tongue irritation as the patient adjusts. Over time, most patients adapt to these sensations, but the initial discomfort can be a hurdle. External braces, conversely, are generally less irritating to the tongue and do not typically affect speech. However, they can cause discomfort to the inside of the lips and cheeks, which can be mitigated with orthodontic wax or adjustments by the orthodontist.


Overall, the choice between lingual and external braces involves a trade-off between aesthetics and initial comfort. Lingual braces offer a discreet solution that prioritizes appearance but may require a period of adjustment, while external braces, though more visible, are often more immediately comfortable. Patients should discuss their priorities and concerns with their orthodontist to determine which option best suits their needs and lifestyle.

Orthodontic Treatment Options for Kids: Discussing braces, aligners, and other corrective measures suitable for young patients.

When considering orthodontic treatment, patients often weigh the benefits and drawbacks of various options, including lingual braces and external braces. Both methods aim to achieve the same goal-correcting misaligned teeth and improving oral health-but they differ significantly in treatment duration and effectiveness.


Lingual braces, which are placed on the inner surface of the teeth, offer a more discreet treatment option. However, this method can sometimes extend the treatment duration. The placement of the braces on the lingual side can make adjustments more challenging for orthodontists, potentially leading to longer treatment times. On average, treatment with lingual braces can last between 18 to 36 months, depending on the complexity of the case. Despite the longer duration, many patients find the aesthetic advantage of lingual braces to be worth the wait.


On the other hand, external braces, such as traditional metal braces or clear aligners, are more visible but often result in a shorter treatment time. Traditional metal braces, for instance, can straighten teeth in about 12 to 30 months. Clear aligners, like Invisalign, may take anywhere from 10 to 24 months. The shorter treatment duration of external braces can be attributed to the ease of access and adjustments, which can be more straightforward compared to lingual braces.


In terms of effectiveness, both lingual and external braces are highly capable of correcting a wide range of orthodontic issues. However, the effectiveness can vary based on individual cases and the skill of the orthodontist. Some patients may find that one method works better for their specific needs. For example, lingual braces may be more effective for minor corrections, while external braces might be better suited for more complex cases.


Ultimately, the choice between lingual braces and external options depends on the patient's priorities regarding treatment duration, effectiveness, and aesthetics. It's essential for patients to consult with their orthodontist to determine which method aligns best with their needs and lifestyle. By understanding the potential duration and effectiveness of each option, patients can make an informed decision that leads to a successful and satisfying orthodontic experience.

The Role of Parents in Orthodontic Care: How parents can support their child's orthodontic treatment and encourage good oral habits.

When comparing lingual braces and external options, such as traditional metal braces or clear aligners, it's essential to consider both the cost implications and maintenance requirements. These factors can significantly influence a patient's decision-making process and overall orthodontic experience.


In terms of cost, lingual braces tend to be more expensive than external options. The average cost of lingual braces can range from $8,000 to $10,000, while traditional metal braces typically cost between $3,000 and $7,000, and clear aligners fall in the range of $3,000 to $8,000. The higher price of lingual braces is primarily due to the specialized skills required for their placement and adjustment, as well as the customized nature of the brackets, which are designed to fit the unique shape of the patient's teeth.


Maintenance requirements also differ between lingual braces and external options. Lingual braces, being placed on the inner surface of the teeth, can make oral hygiene more challenging. Patients must take extra care to clean around the brackets and wires, often using specialized tools like interdental brushes and water flossers. Regular dental check-ups and orthodontic adjustments are crucial to ensure the braces are functioning correctly and to prevent issues like plaque buildup or tooth decay.


In contrast, external options generally have more straightforward maintenance requirements. Traditional metal braces require similar oral hygiene practices to lingual braces, but the accessibility of the brackets makes cleaning easier. Clear aligners, on the other hand, are removable, allowing patients to brush and floss their teeth normally. However, aligners must be worn for at least 22 hours a day and cleaned regularly to maintain their effectiveness and appearance.


Ultimately, the choice between lingual braces and external options depends on the individual's priorities, budget, and lifestyle. While lingual braces offer the advantage of being nearly invisible, their higher cost and more demanding maintenance may deter some patients. External options, such as metal braces or clear aligners, may be more affordable and easier to maintain, but they may not provide the same level of aesthetic appeal. By carefully weighing the cost implications and maintenance requirements, patients can make an informed decision that aligns with their orthodontic goals and personal circumstances.

Long-term Benefits of Early Orthodontic Intervention: How treating malocclusions in childhood can prevent more serious issues in adulthood.

When it comes to orthodontic treatment, the choice between lingual braces and external options such as traditional metal braces or clear aligners is a significant decision that often involves both parents and patients. Understanding the perspectives of both parties can provide valuable insights into the decision-making process.


From a parental perspective, the primary concerns usually revolve around the effectiveness, cost, and comfort of the treatment. Lingual braces, which are placed on the inner surface of the teeth, are often seen as a more aesthetically pleasing option, as they are less visible than external braces. This can be a significant factor for parents who want their children to feel confident during treatment. However, the cost of lingual braces can be higher than that of external options, which may be a consideration for families on a budget. Additionally, parents may worry about the potential discomfort associated with lingual braces, as they can sometimes cause more irritation to the tongue and speech difficulties during the initial adjustment period.


On the other hand, patients, particularly teenagers and young adults, often have their own set of priorities when it comes to choosing between lingual and external braces. Many patients value the aesthetic aspect of treatment, and the nearly invisible nature of lingual braces can be a major draw. However, some patients may find the adjustment period more challenging with lingual braces and prefer the familiarity and ease of external options. Clear aligners, for example, are removable and can be more comfortable for some patients, although they require a high level of compliance to be effective.


Both parents and patients also consider the duration of treatment and the orthodontist's recommendation when making their decision. Lingual braces can sometimes take longer to achieve the desired results compared to external braces, which may influence the choice. Ultimately, the decision between lingual and external braces is a personal one that should be made after careful consideration of all factors and in consultation with a trusted orthodontist.


In conclusion, the perspectives of parents and patients on choosing between lingual and external braces are shaped by a variety of factors, including aesthetics, cost, comfort, and treatment duration. By understanding and discussing these considerations, families can make an informed decision that best suits their needs and preferences.

 

Pediatrics
A pediatrician examines a neonate.
Focus Infants, Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults
Subdivisions Paediatric cardiology, neonatology, critical care, pediatric oncology, hospital medicine, primary care, others (see below)
Significant diseases Congenital diseases, Infectious diseases, Childhood cancer, Mental disorders
Significant tests World Health Organization Child Growth Standards
Specialist Pediatrician
Glossary Glossary of medicine

Pediatrics (American English) also spelled paediatrics (British English), is the branch of medicine that involves the medical care of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. In the United Kingdom, pediatrics covers many of their youth until the age of 18.[1] The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends people seek pediatric care through the age of 21, but some pediatric subspecialists continue to care for adults up to 25.[2][3] Worldwide age limits of pediatrics have been trending upward year after year.[4] A medical doctor who specializes in this area is known as a pediatrician, or paediatrician. The word pediatrics and its cognates mean "healer of children", derived from the two Greek words: παá¿–ς (pais "child") and á¼°ατρÏŒς (iatros "doctor, healer"). Pediatricians work in clinics, research centers, universities, general hospitals and children's hospitals, including those who practice pediatric subspecialties (e.g. neonatology requires resources available in a NICU).

History

[edit]
Part of Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, United Kingdom, which was the first pediatric hospital in the English-speaking world.

The earliest mentions of child-specific medical problems appear in the Hippocratic Corpus, published in the fifth century B.C., and the famous Sacred Disease. These publications discussed topics such as childhood epilepsy and premature births. From the first to fourth centuries A.D., Greek philosophers and physicians Celsus, Soranus of Ephesus, Aretaeus, Galen, and Oribasius, also discussed specific illnesses affecting children in their works, such as rashes, epilepsy, and meningitis.[5] Already Hippocrates, Aristotle, Celsus, Soranus, and Galen[6] understood the differences in growing and maturing organisms that necessitated different treatment: Ex toto non sic pueri ut viri curari debent ("In general, boys should not be treated in the same way as men").[7] Some of the oldest traces of pediatrics can be discovered in Ancient India where children's doctors were called kumara bhrtya.[6]

Even though some pediatric works existed during this time, they were scarce and rarely published due to a lack of knowledge in pediatric medicine. Sushruta Samhita, an ayurvedic text composed during the sixth century BCE, contains the text about pediatrics.[8] Another ayurvedic text from this period is Kashyapa Samhita.[9][10] A second century AD manuscript by the Greek physician and gynecologist Soranus of Ephesus dealt with neonatal pediatrics.[11] Byzantine physicians Oribasius, Aëtius of Amida, Alexander Trallianus, and Paulus Aegineta contributed to the field.[6] The Byzantines also built brephotrophia (crêches).[6] Islamic Golden Age writers served as a bridge for Greco-Roman and Byzantine medicine and added ideas of their own, especially Haly Abbas, Yahya Serapion, Abulcasis, Avicenna, and Averroes. The Persian philosopher and physician al-Razi (865–925), sometimes called the father of pediatrics, published a monograph on pediatrics titled Diseases in Children.[12][13] Also among the first books about pediatrics was Libellus [Opusculum] de aegritudinibus et remediis infantium 1472 ("Little Book on Children Diseases and Treatment"), by the Italian pediatrician Paolo Bagellardo.[14][5] In sequence came Bartholomäus Metlinger's Ein Regiment der Jungerkinder 1473, Cornelius Roelans (1450–1525) no title Buchlein, or Latin compendium, 1483, and Heinrich von Louffenburg (1391–1460) Versehung des Leibs written in 1429 (published 1491), together form the Pediatric Incunabula, four great medical treatises on children's physiology and pathology.[6]

While more information about childhood diseases became available, there was little evidence that children received the same kind of medical care that adults did.[15] It was during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries that medical experts started offering specialized care for children.[5] The Swedish physician Nils Rosén von Rosenstein (1706–1773) is considered to be the founder of modern pediatrics as a medical specialty,[16][17] while his work The diseases of children, and their remedies (1764) is considered to be "the first modern textbook on the subject".[18] However, it was not until the nineteenth century that medical professionals acknowledged pediatrics as a separate field of medicine. The first pediatric-specific publications appeared between the 1790s and the 1920s.[19]

Etymology

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The term pediatrics was first introduced in English in 1859 by Abraham Jacobi. In 1860, he became "the first dedicated professor of pediatrics in the world."[20] Jacobi is known as the father of American pediatrics because of his many contributions to the field.[21][22] He received his medical training in Germany and later practiced in New York City.[23]

The first generally accepted pediatric hospital is the Hôpital des Enfants Malades (French: Hospital for Sick Children), which opened in Paris in June 1802 on the site of a previous orphanage.[24] From its beginning, this famous hospital accepted patients up to the age of fifteen years,[25] and it continues to this day as the pediatric division of the Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, created in 1920 by merging with the nearby Necker Hospital, founded in 1778.[26]

In other European countries, the Charité (a hospital founded in 1710) in Berlin established a separate Pediatric Pavilion in 1830, followed by similar institutions at Saint Petersburg in 1834, and at Vienna and Breslau (now WrocÅ‚aw), both in 1837. In 1852 Britain's first pediatric hospital, the Hospital for Sick Children, Great Ormond Street was founded by Charles West.[24] The first Children's hospital in Scotland opened in 1860 in Edinburgh.[27] In the US, the first similar institutions were the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, which opened in 1855, and then Boston Children's Hospital (1869).[28] Subspecialties in pediatrics were created at the Harriet Lane Home at Johns Hopkins by Edwards A. Park.[29]

Differences between adult and pediatric medicine

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The body size differences are paralleled by maturation changes. The smaller body of an infant or neonate is substantially different physiologically from that of an adult. Congenital defects, genetic variance, and developmental issues are of greater concern to pediatricians than they often are to adult physicians. A common adage is that children are not simply "little adults". The clinician must take into account the immature physiology of the infant or child when considering symptoms, prescribing medications, and diagnosing illnesses.[30]

Pediatric physiology directly impacts the pharmacokinetic properties of drugs that enter the body. The absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination of medications differ between developing children and grown adults.[30][31][32] Despite completed studies and reviews, continual research is needed to better understand how these factors should affect the decisions of healthcare providers when prescribing and administering medications to the pediatric population.[30]

Absorption

[edit]

Many drug absorption differences between pediatric and adult populations revolve around the stomach. Neonates and young infants have increased stomach pH due to decreased acid secretion, thereby creating a more basic environment for drugs that are taken by mouth.[31][30][32] Acid is essential to degrading certain oral drugs before systemic absorption. Therefore, the absorption of these drugs in children is greater than in adults due to decreased breakdown and increased preservation in a less acidic gastric space.[31]

Children also have an extended rate of gastric emptying, which slows the rate of drug absorption.[31][32]

Drug absorption also depends on specific enzymes that come in contact with the oral drug as it travels through the body. Supply of these enzymes increase as children continue to develop their gastrointestinal tract.[31][32] Pediatric patients have underdeveloped proteins, which leads to decreased metabolism and increased serum concentrations of specific drugs. However, prodrugs experience the opposite effect because enzymes are necessary for allowing their active form to enter systemic circulation.[31]

Distribution

[edit]

Percentage of total body water and extracellular fluid volume both decrease as children grow and develop with time. Pediatric patients thus have a larger volume of distribution than adults, which directly affects the dosing of hydrophilic drugs such as beta-lactam antibiotics like ampicillin.[31] Thus, these drugs are administered at greater weight-based doses or with adjusted dosing intervals in children to account for this key difference in body composition.[31][30]

Infants and neonates also have fewer plasma proteins. Thus, highly protein-bound drugs have fewer opportunities for protein binding, leading to increased distribution.[30]

Metabolism

[edit]

Drug metabolism primarily occurs via enzymes in the liver and can vary according to which specific enzymes are affected in a specific stage of development.[31] Phase I and Phase II enzymes have different rates of maturation and development, depending on their specific mechanism of action (i.e. oxidation, hydrolysis, acetylation, methylation, etc.). Enzyme capacity, clearance, and half-life are all factors that contribute to metabolism differences between children and adults.[31][32] Drug metabolism can even differ within the pediatric population, separating neonates and infants from young children.[30]

Elimination

[edit]

Drug elimination is primarily facilitated via the liver and kidneys.[31] In infants and young children, the larger relative size of their kidneys leads to increased renal clearance of medications that are eliminated through urine.[32] In preterm neonates and infants, their kidneys are slower to mature and thus are unable to clear as much drug as fully developed kidneys. This can cause unwanted drug build-up, which is why it is important to consider lower doses and greater dosing intervals for this population.[30][31] Diseases that negatively affect kidney function can also have the same effect and thus warrant similar considerations.[31]

Pediatric autonomy in healthcare

[edit]

A major difference between the practice of pediatric and adult medicine is that children, in most jurisdictions and with certain exceptions, cannot make decisions for themselves. The issues of guardianship, privacy, legal responsibility, and informed consent must always be considered in every pediatric procedure. Pediatricians often have to treat the parents and sometimes, the family, rather than just the child. Adolescents are in their own legal class, having rights to their own health care decisions in certain circumstances. The concept of legal consent combined with the non-legal consent (assent) of the child when considering treatment options, especially in the face of conditions with poor prognosis or complicated and painful procedures/surgeries, means the pediatrician must take into account the desires of many people, in addition to those of the patient.[citation needed]

History of pediatric autonomy

[edit]

The term autonomy is traceable to ethical theory and law, where it states that autonomous individuals can make decisions based on their own logic.[33] Hippocrates was the first to use the term in a medical setting. He created a code of ethics for doctors called the Hippocratic Oath that highlighted the importance of putting patients' interests first, making autonomy for patients a top priority in health care.[34]  

In ancient times, society did not view pediatric medicine as essential or scientific.[35] Experts considered professional medicine unsuitable for treating children. Children also had no rights. Fathers regarded their children as property, so their children's health decisions were entrusted to them.[5] As a result, mothers, midwives, "wise women", and general practitioners treated the children instead of doctors.[35] Since mothers could not rely on professional medicine to take care of their children, they developed their own methods, such as using alkaline soda ash to remove the vernix at birth and treating teething pain with opium or wine. The absence of proper pediatric care, rights, and laws in health care to prioritize children's health led to many of their deaths. Ancient Greeks and Romans sometimes even killed healthy female babies and infants with deformities since they had no adequate medical treatment and no laws prohibiting infanticide.[5]

In the twentieth century, medical experts began to put more emphasis on children's rights. In 1989, in the United Nations Rights of the Child Convention, medical experts developed the Best Interest Standard of Child to prioritize children's rights and best interests. This event marked the onset of pediatric autonomy. In 1995, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) finally acknowledged the Best Interest Standard of a Child as an ethical principle for pediatric decision-making, and it is still being used today.[34]

Parental authority and current medical issues

[edit]

The majority of the time, parents have the authority to decide what happens to their child. Philosopher John Locke argued that it is the responsibility of parents to raise their children and that God gave them this authority. In modern society, Jeffrey Blustein, modern philosopher and author of the book Parents and Children: The Ethics of Family, argues that parental authority is granted because the child requires parents to satisfy their needs. He believes that parental autonomy is more about parents providing good care for their children and treating them with respect than parents having rights.[36] The researcher Kyriakos Martakis, MD, MSc, explains that research shows parental influence negatively affects children's ability to form autonomy. However, involving children in the decision-making process allows children to develop their cognitive skills and create their own opinions and, thus, decisions about their health. Parental authority affects the degree of autonomy the child patient has. As a result, in Argentina, the new National Civil and Commercial Code has enacted various changes to the healthcare system to encourage children and adolescents to develop autonomy. It has become more crucial to let children take accountability for their own health decisions.[37]

In most cases, the pediatrician, parent, and child work as a team to make the best possible medical decision. The pediatrician has the right to intervene for the child's welfare and seek advice from an ethics committee. However, in recent studies, authors have denied that complete autonomy is present in pediatric healthcare. The same moral standards should apply to children as they do to adults. In support of this idea is the concept of paternalism, which negates autonomy when it is in the patient's interests. This concept aims to keep the child's best interests in mind regarding autonomy. Pediatricians can interact with patients and help them make decisions that will benefit them, thus enhancing their autonomy. However, radical theories that question a child's moral worth continue to be debated today.[37] Authors often question whether the treatment and equality of a child and an adult should be the same. Author Tamar Schapiro notes that children need nurturing and cannot exercise the same level of authority as adults.[38] Hence, continuing the discussion on whether children are capable of making important health decisions until this day.

Modern advancements

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According to the Subcommittee of Clinical Ethics of the Argentinean Pediatric Society (SAP), children can understand moral feelings at all ages and can make reasonable decisions based on those feelings. Therefore, children and teens are deemed capable of making their own health decisions when they reach the age of 13. Recently, studies made on the decision-making of children have challenged that age to be 12.[37]

Technology has made several modern advancements that contribute to the future development of child autonomy, for example, unsolicited findings (U.F.s) of pediatric exome sequencing. They are findings based on pediatric exome sequencing that explain in greater detail the intellectual disability of a child and predict to what extent it will affect the child in the future. Genetic and intellectual disorders in children make them incapable of making moral decisions, so people look down upon this kind of testing because the child's future autonomy is at risk. It is still in question whether parents should request these types of testing for their children. Medical experts argue that it could endanger the autonomous rights the child will possess in the future. However, the parents contend that genetic testing would benefit the welfare of their children since it would allow them to make better health care decisions.[39] Exome sequencing for children and the decision to grant parents the right to request them is a medically ethical issue that many still debate today.

Education requirements

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Aspiring medical students will need 4 years of undergraduate courses at a college or university, which will get them a BS, BA or other bachelor's degree. After completing college, future pediatricians will need to attend 4 years of medical school (MD/DO/MBBS) and later do 3 more years of residency training, the first year of which is called "internship." After completing the 3 years of residency, physicians are eligible to become certified in pediatrics by passing a rigorous test that deals with medical conditions related to young children.[citation needed]

In high school, future pediatricians are required to take basic science classes such as biology, chemistry, physics, algebra, geometry, and calculus. It is also advisable to learn a foreign language (preferably Spanish in the United States) and be involved in high school organizations and extracurricular activities. After high school, college students simply need to fulfill the basic science course requirements that most medical schools recommend and will need to prepare to take the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) in their junior or early senior year in college. Once attending medical school, student courses will focus on basic medical sciences like human anatomy, physiology, chemistry, etc., for the first three years, the second year of which is when medical students start to get hands-on experience with actual patients.[40]

Training of pediatricians

[edit]
Pediatrics
Occupation
Names
  • Pediatrician
  • Paediatrician
Occupation type
Specialty
Activity sectors
Medicine
Description
Education required
  • Doctor of Medicine
  • Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS/MBChB)
Fields of
employment
Hospitals, Clinics

The training of pediatricians varies considerably across the world. Depending on jurisdiction and university, a medical degree course may be either undergraduate-entry or graduate-entry. The former commonly takes five or six years and has been usual in the Commonwealth. Entrants to graduate-entry courses (as in the US), usually lasting four or five years, have previously completed a three- or four-year university degree, commonly but by no means always in sciences. Medical graduates hold a degree specific to the country and university in and from which they graduated. This degree qualifies that medical practitioner to become licensed or registered under the laws of that particular country, and sometimes of several countries, subject to requirements for "internship" or "conditional registration".

Pediatricians must undertake further training in their chosen field. This may take from four to eleven or more years depending on jurisdiction and the degree of specialization.

In the United States, a medical school graduate wishing to specialize in pediatrics must undergo a three-year residency composed of outpatient, inpatient, and critical care rotations. Subspecialties within pediatrics require further training in the form of 3-year fellowships. Subspecialties include critical care, gastroenterology, neurology, infectious disease, hematology/oncology, rheumatology, pulmonology, child abuse, emergency medicine, endocrinology, neonatology, and others.[41]

In most jurisdictions, entry-level degrees are common to all branches of the medical profession, but in some jurisdictions, specialization in pediatrics may begin before completion of this degree. In some jurisdictions, pediatric training is begun immediately following the completion of entry-level training. In other jurisdictions, junior medical doctors must undertake generalist (unstreamed) training for a number of years before commencing pediatric (or any other) specialization. Specialist training is often largely under the control of 'pediatric organizations (see below) rather than universities and depends on the jurisdiction.

Subspecialties

[edit]

Subspecialties of pediatrics include:

(not an exhaustive list)

  • Addiction medicine (multidisciplinary)
  • Adolescent medicine
  • Child abuse pediatrics
  • Clinical genetics
  • Clinical informatics
  • Developmental-behavioral pediatrics
  • Headache medicine
  • Hospital medicine
  • Medical toxicology
  • Metabolic medicine
  • Neonatology/Perinatology
  • Pain medicine (multidisciplinary)
  • Palliative care (multidisciplinary)
  • Pediatric allergy and immunology
  • Pediatric cardiology
    • Pediatric cardiac critical care
  • Pediatric critical care
    • Neurocritical care
    • Pediatric cardiac critical care
  • Pediatric emergency medicine
  • Pediatric endocrinology
  • Pediatric gastroenterology
    • Transplant hepatology
  • Pediatric hematology
  • Pediatric infectious disease
  • Pediatric nephrology
  • Pediatric oncology
    • Pediatric neuro-oncology
  • Pediatric pulmonology
  • Primary care
  • Pediatric rheumatology
  • Sleep medicine (multidisciplinary)
  • Social pediatrics
  • Sports medicine

Other specialties that care for children

[edit]

(not an exhaustive list)

  • Child neurology
    • Addiction medicine (multidisciplinary)
    • Brain injury medicine
    • Clinical neurophysiology
    • Epilepsy
    • Headache medicine
    • Neurocritical care
    • Neuroimmunology
    • Neuromuscular medicine
    • Pain medicine (multidisciplinary)
    • Palliative care (multidisciplinary)
    • Pediatric neuro-oncology
    • Sleep medicine (multidisciplinary)
  • Child and adolescent psychiatry, subspecialty of psychiatry
  • Neurodevelopmental disabilities
  • Pediatric anesthesiology, subspecialty of anesthesiology
  • Pediatric dentistry, subspecialty of dentistry
  • Pediatric dermatology, subspecialty of dermatology
  • Pediatric gynecology
  • Pediatric neurosurgery, subspecialty of neurosurgery
  • Pediatric ophthalmology, subspecialty of ophthalmology
  • Pediatric orthopedic surgery, subspecialty of orthopedic surgery
  • Pediatric otolaryngology, subspecialty of otolaryngology
  • Pediatric plastic surgery, subspecialty of plastic surgery
  • Pediatric radiology, subspecialty of radiology
  • Pediatric rehabilitation medicine, subspecialty of physical medicine and rehabilitation
  • Pediatric surgery, subspecialty of general surgery
  • Pediatric urology, subspecialty of urology

See also

[edit]
  • American Academy of Pediatrics
  • American Osteopathic Board of Pediatrics
  • Center on Media and Child Health (CMCH)
  • Children's hospital
  • List of pediatric organizations
  • List of pediatrics journals
  • Medical specialty
  • Pediatric Oncall
  • Pain in babies
  • Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
  • Pediatric environmental health

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Paediatrics" (PDF). nhs.uk. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 July 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  2. ^ "Choosing a Pediatrician for Your New Baby (for Parents) - Nemours KidsHealth". kidshealth.org. Archived from the original on 14 July 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
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Further reading

[edit]
  • BMC Pediatrics - open access
  • Clinical Pediatrics
  • Developmental Review - partial open access
  • JAMA Pediatrics
  • The Journal of Pediatrics - partial open access
[edit]
  • Pediatrics Directory at Curlie
  • Pediatric Health Directory at OpenMD