2026 Volume 14 Issue 1
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Collaborative Pathways: Integrating Pediatric Dentistry, Orthodontics, and General Practice in Early Dental Care


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  1. King Abdulaziz Dental Center, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, KSA.
  2. Endodontic Department, King Abdulaziz Medical City, National Guard Hospital, Riyadh, KSA.
  3. General dentist, National Guard Hospital, primary health care, Riyadh, KSA.
  4. Pediatric Dentistry Department, King Abdulaziz Medical City, National Guard Hospital, Riyadh, KSA.
  5. King Abdulaziz Medical City for the National Guard, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
  6. Dental department, King Abdulaziz Medical City, NGHA, Riyadh.
  7. Prosthodontist, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh.
  8. College of Dentistry, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Abstract

Children's oral health should be prioritized during early childhood, and orthodontic treatment should be integrated into existing dental services. This review focuses on collaborative efforts between pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, and general practice, specifically looking at recent Saudi Arabian research from 2019 to 2025. Results indicate that pediatricians who integrate basic oral health assessments increase preventative dental care. Pediatricians who implement basic oral health assessments, like fluoride application and early risk assessments, have lower dental caries rates and increased preventive dental care utilization. Well-organized referral pathways allow early detection of orthodontic issues and shorten treatment waiting times. Joint training of medical and dental students enhances their readiness to collaborate and their knowledge. Integrated care models have reported more favorable outcomes, particularly for children with considerable medical or dental needs. These models still lack long-term follow-up data, evaluation of referral pathways, and data from the Middle East. This review concludes that pediatricians, dentists, and orthodontists require more collaboration to enhance practical models of care and better focus on children's oral health.


How to cite this article
Vancouver
Alawad IA, AlHezam A, Alsulaimani R, Alahmed A, Altamimi M, Alhazzaa A, et al. Collaborative Pathways: Integrating Pediatric Dentistry, Orthodontics, and General Practice in Early Dental Care. Ann Dent Spec. 2026;14(1):78-83. https://doi.org/10.51847/pce8e3YHjK
APA
Alawad, I. A., AlHezam, A., Alsulaimani, R., Alahmed, A., Altamimi, M., Alhazzaa, A., Albalawi, A., Alotaibi, A., Alhabdan, Y., Albeshr, A., et al. (2026). Collaborative Pathways: Integrating Pediatric Dentistry, Orthodontics, and General Practice in Early Dental Care. Annals of Dental Specialty, 14(1), 78-83. https://doi.org/10.51847/pce8e3YHjK
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