Ajou Dental Hospital Establishes First Pediatric Intensive Dental Care Team in South Korea

Korea: Ajou Dental Hospital has announced the establishment of the Pediatric Intensive Dental Care Team (PIDCT), an initiative in South Korea aimed at delivering emergency and critical dental treatment exclusively for pediatric patients. Comprised of pediatric dentists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, and specialized medical staff, the PIDCT team has developed a comprehensive protocol to address the specific needs of pediatric patients in critical cases, ensuring prompt and specialized care.

With the introduction of this initiative, Ajou Dental Hospital has reportedly become the first institution in South Korea to establish a Pediatric Intensive Dental Care Team dedicated to emergency dental treatment for pediatric patients.

Targeting Children Requiring Urgent Dental Care

The target recipients of this specialized treatment are children who require emergency dental care due to accidents or negligence, as well as those with congenital or chronic conditions such as leukemia, pediatric cancer, pediatric cardiac disease, and pediatric rare genetic disorders. 

Often, these young patients find it challenging to express their pain or articulate their specific condition, leading to delayed diagnosis and missed treatment until the dental nerve becomes necrotic, posing severe risks including the possibility of fatality.

The current dental care landscape in South Korea lacks dedicated systems for pediatric patients, particularly in emergency and critical cases, with the exception of dental university hospitals.

To address this crucial gap in care, the newly formed PIDCT team will comprise dental duty doctors who will conduct immediate basic examinations and treatments for such pediatric cases in the hospital’s emergency room or wards. If required, they will collaborate closely with pediatric dentists and oral and maxillofacial surgeons to provide specialized treatments. 

Preventing Exacerbation of Conditions

There will also be a coordinated system established in collaboration with related departments such as the Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, ensuring prioritized emergency care for critical pediatric patients and regular post-treatment dental examinations. These measures aim to prevent the exacerbation of conditions by avoiding missed or neglected treatment in emergency and critical cases involving pediatric patients.

Dr Kim Young-ho, Director of Ajou Dental Hospital and Dean of Clinical Dentistry, expressed his optimism about the new treatment team, stating, “The establishment of the Pediatric Intensive Dental Care Team is expected to greatly enhance accessibility to dental treatment for emergency and critical pediatric patients.”