Growth and development in the pediatric patient.

What is the most important aspect of children's dentistry? Some may argue that it is the restoration orprevention of decay and disease. Others may describe nutrition. The diagnosis and treatment of proper growth and development, I feel is the most important responsibility of our practices. What we do or don't do can affect the child for life. Unfortunately, many of us lack the abilities we need to affectively monitor or augment, if necessary, proper growth and development. The purpose of this paper is to provide us with some basic knowledge, tools and treatments.