Making oral health a priority in your preventive pediatric visits.
Oral health is a prevalent health issue for children. Pediatricians have an important role in screening, educating, and making referrals during well-child visits. Advice must be age-specific to be effective. Topics to be covered include hygiene, diet, habits, fluoride, and referrals to dentists. Other members of the office can play a role in educating care givers. Special needs children and literacy issues demand extra attention in oral health management. There are many oral health resources available for pediatricians and parents.
Silk
Hugh
H
University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA. silkh@ummhc.org
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019140:Dental Care for Children; D004032:Diet; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009819:Office Visits; D009909:Oral Health; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011313:Preventive Dentistry