title: Increasing dental care for very young children: what can training accomplish?
abstract: Too few dental providers feel comfortable or are keen on seeing young children in their practices, and training in oral health has generally ignored the dental component of early childhood. Evaluation of California's $7 million First Smiles showed increased knowledge and skills among 3,369 dental professionals trained. Positive practice changes included increasing willingness to see more 1-5 aged children, including special needs; seeing children for a first visit by age 1; and conferring with a pregnant patient's medical provider.
authors.affiliation: Barbara Aved Associates, Sacramento, USA.
authors.forename: Barbara M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Aved
authors.forename: Lawrence S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Meyers
authors.forename: Elita Lin
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Burmas
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002140:California; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D019140:Dental Care for Children; D003730:Dental Care for Persons with Disabilities; D004498:Education, Dental, Continuing; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists'; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D011320:Primary Health Care; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D018570:Risk Assessment