title: It's only teething...a report of the myths and modern approaches to teething.
abstract: Paediatric dentistry is not my usual field of work. I am now based almost entirely in restorative dentistry and it is five years since I worked in the dental department of a children's hospital. An essay on teething would appear to be an unusual choice of topic. With the current professional climate of 'general professional education' and 'lifelong learning' I can easily justify my time and effort studying a subject somewhat removed from my regular work. However, to be completely honest, I have reached that age when many of my friends, relatives and colleagues are enjoying the sleepless nights that accompany expanding families. Add to this the fact that I have recently married into a family of midwives, health visitors, nurses and new mothers. I was not sure that I was giving the best, most up to date advice when asked about teething. So some reading around was required. If only it were that simple. I now feel equipped to give a little more help than simply saying, "It's only teething..."
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dentistry, Charles Clifford Dental Hospital, Sheffield.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Ashley
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018730:Infant Behavior; D013283:Stomatitis, Herpetic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D014078:Tooth Eruption / Q000502:physiology