Pediatric dentistry is a speciality that deals with problems occurring in children, infants and neonates. This branch reserves its unique place in the field of dentistry for both dental and medical problems. The concept of this book was perceived few years back as we found that there was very limited literatures for dental clinicians and postgraduate students to understand needs of the special child along with their treatment strategies under one roof. The student is left perplexed as to from where the information can be gathered and assimilated to treat the special child. This lack of knowledge has created a vacuum, forcing us to run away from the situation and treating them as a burden thereby making not, so essential referral to the hospital set-up.

Consequently these lead to limit our capability to manage such cases and prevent these kids from rightfully desired treatment. As we firmly belive that it is impossible to consize entire pediatric dentistry under one roof. Thus, this book represents an extended version of those conditions that are not seen in our routine practice. The book has been divided into eight sections. In the first section we take you through the various aspects such as needs, family environment, home care, finances, mental status of the child and the family. The next few sections give a detailed insight of all the condition of mental, physical, and medically compromised. Last but not the least we discuss Understanding and Management of Special Child in Pediatric Dentistry in a hospital set-up along with other aspects such as admission procedures, clinical records and medicolegal issues.

The book is our sincere effort for helping the special children by creating a stepping stone for those who will be treating them. Also a sincere effort has been made to put all the information together in the form of chapters. Towards the end I would just like to add that...

Great challenges lie in understanding the special child.