title: Infant oral health examinations: attitudes and professional behavior of general and pediatric dentists in Michigan and pediatric dentists in the U.S.
abstract: Caries in young children in the United States has increased since 1988. Infant oral health examinations (IOHE) provide opportunities to educate parents about preventing caries in young children. The objective is to explore attitudes and behavior concerning IOHE among general and pediatric dentists in Michigan and pediatric dentists in the remaining 49 U.S. states.
  
  
  METHODS
  Survey data were collected from 137 general and 45 pediatric dentists in Michigan and 2,112 pediatric dentists outside of Michigan.
  
  
  RESULTS
  General dentists had more negative attitudes towards IOHE than pediatric dentists in Michigan and other U.S. states. Only 41 percent of general dentists vs. 84 percent and 89 percent of pediatric dentists in Michigan and other states performed IOHE (p<.001). While general dentists who performed IOHE had better attitudes towards IOHE than their non-IOHE-performing colleagues, they engaged less in prevention directed activities compared to pediatric dentists.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is crucial to engage increasing numbers of general dentists in a preventive approach to treating young children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, USA.
authors.forename: Nejay
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ananaba
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Malcheff
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Briskie
authors.forename: Marita Rohr
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Inglehart
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D019140:Dental Care for Children; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control; D003815:Dentists / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005792:General Practice, Dental; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006267:Health Education, Dental; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018730:Infant Behavior; D007229:Infant Welfare; D008297:Male; D008824:Michigan; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education; D010377:Pediatric Dentistry; D010808:Physical Examination; D011215:Practice Management, Dental; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists'; D011313:Preventive Dentistry; D011365:Professional Practice Location; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States