title: Implementing an infant oral care program.
abstract: The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American Dental Association, American Public Health Association, Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors, California Dental Association, and California Society of Pediatric Dentists currently recommend that children receive their first dental evaluation within the first year of life. Providing early care to children from ages 6 months to 5 years offers an opportunity to educate and inform parents about their children's oral health. Anticipatory guidance - counseling of parents by health providers about developmental changes that will occur in their children between health visits - for children's dental health is an important part of preventive care. It may be the most effective way to prevent problems that traditional infectious disease models have failed to address, such as early childhood caries. The model of anticipatory guidance is valuable for dental professionals because it emphasizes prevention of dental problems rather than restorative care. A comprehensive infant oral care program utilizes (1) oral health assessment at regularly scheduled dental visits, (2) risk assessments, (3) counseling sessions with parents during either regular dental visits or additional visits scheduled if a child is deemed at risk, (4) preventive treatment such as the application of fluoride varnish or sealants, and (5) outreach and incentives to reinforce attendance. Facilitating access to early and regular dental care is a crucial part of any effective intervention strategy, and intervention techniques should be tailored to the community being served.
authors.affiliation: Department of Growth and Development, University of California School of Dentistry, San Francisco 94143-0753, USA.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ramos-Gomez
authors.forename: Bonnie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jue
authors.forename: C Yolanda
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Bonta
mesh_terms: D002140:California; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003190:Comprehensive Dental Care; D003376:Counseling; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005459:Fluorides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006267:Health Education, Dental; D006293:Health Promotion; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009042:Motivation; D009055:Mouth / Q000293:injuries; D009909:Oral Health; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D010290:Parents; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants; D011295:Prenatal Care; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants; D005459:Fluorides