IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences (IOSR-JDMS) e-ISSN: 2279-0853, p-ISSN: 2279-0861.Volume 20, Issue 5 Ser.7 (May. 2021), PP 22-31 www.iosrjournals.org DOI: 10.9790/0853-2005072231 www.iosrjournal.org 22 | Page Interaction between the Orthodontist and the Pediatric Dentist – An Overview Liliya Angelova 1 , Krasimir Hristov 2 1 Private Practice, Sofia, Bulgaria 2 Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatric dentistry, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Medical University –Sofia, Bulgaria Abstract: Background: The pediatric dentist and orthodontist have many professional interests in common. A successful collaboration between Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry during the stages of primary and mixed dentition is important for making an early diagnosis of dental alterations and malocclusions, which allows less complex early treatment and a better prognosis. A pediatric dentist provides valuable assistance to the orthodontist by reducing the complexity of certain cases and by encouraging greater cooperation from the patient. The treatment provided by both specialties often has profound effects upon the function and esthetics of young patients. Individual patient care is at its best when a synergistic collaboration of the pediatric dentist and orthodontist is fully realized. Sharing information between both specialties is critical, as is coordination of pediatric dental and orthodontic treatment. New and more profoundly effective avenues of communication and interaction between the orthodontist and pediatric dentist need to be established and maintained if individual patients are to benefit from modern orthodontic and pediatric dental care.This article explores commonly encountered problems and suggests some collaboration guidelines. It is important to explore the aspects of this inter-specialty interactivity and communication in different clinical situations to optimize treatment coordination. Key words: Interdisciplinary collaboration, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry; --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date of Submission: 05-05-2021 Date of Acceptance: 18-05-2021 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. Introduction The pediatric dentist and orthodontist have many professional interests in common as they both are treating the same patient often at the same time. A successful collaboration between Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry during the stages of primary and mixed dentition is important for making an early diagnosis of dental alterations and malocclusions, which allows less complex early treatment and a better prognosis 1 . The treatment provided by both specialties often has profound effects upon the function and esthetics of young patients. Moreover, this integrated approach allows the implementation of interceptive orthodontics with relatively low cost and the use of preventive programs with maximum benefit for the oral health of young patients. Individual patient care is at its best when a synergistic collaboration of the pediatric dentist and orthodontist is fully realized. The pediatric dentist is both a primary care dental health provider and a specialist who is able to diagnose, prevent, treat and control oral health problems from babies to adolescents. The pediatric dentist will most likely interface with the orthodontist on a daily basis far more than any other dental clinician. The pediatric dentist provides guidance for parents/guardians of young people's oral health; raises awareness and teaches good dental habits to young people; detects possible deviations with repercussion in the dental structures; identifies risk factors and develops preventive strategies and last but not least refers the patient to the appropriate dental specialists when a certain problem should be treated. Malocclusions can affect the health of oral tissues and may cause psychological and social problems 2 . The common goal of all orthodontic treatment methods is to ensure that the teeth are aligned properly on the jaws, as well as in harmony with each other. A balanced soft tissue appearance and an esthetic smile are the optimal goal of the orthodontists. Fixed or removable orthodontic treatment appliances used for this purpose may cause some undesirable side effects, as it may be seen in every treatment process. Orthodontics also can provide some additional benefits for the overall oral health in cases ectopic and impacted teeth, in cases where extraction of permanent teeth is necessary due to complicated caries or for other reasons, in cases of hypodontia and as adjunctive therapy in complex situations like dental trauma.