National Maternal and Child
Oral Health Resource
Center
This and past issues of the Oral Health Alert: Focus on Head Start are available at http://www.mchoralhealth.org/alert/archives.html.
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Special Notice: National Dental Hygiene Month (October 2006), an
observance of the importance of oral hygiene, is sponsored by the
American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA). This year, ADHA focuses
on early childhood oral health care, dental hygienists' role in
educating parents and children, and prevention of early childhood
caries. More information is available at http://www.adha.org/ndhm.
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1. American Dental Education Association and Head Start:
Envisioning Future Collaborations to Improve Oral Health
This report describes a forum held on June 23, 2006, in Washington, DC,
to discuss collaboration between the American Dental Education
Association (ADEA) and Head Start to address oral health issues among
children and families enrolled in Head Start. Report contents include
an executive summary, background information about the forum and ADEA,
models and strategies for collaboration, recommendations, and next
steps. Closing remarks, the forum agenda, and a participant list are
also provided.
Contact: National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center,
Georgetown University, Box 571272, Washington, DC 20057-1272.
Telephone: (202) 784-9771; fax: (202) 784-9777; e-mail: info@mchoralhealth.org; Web
site: http://www.mchoralhealth.org.
Available at no charge from the Web site at http://www.mchoralhealth.org/PDFS/ADEAForum.pdf.
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2. Frequently Asked Questions
This section of the National Head Start Oral Health Resource Center's
Web site was recently updated to include four new questions addressing
the following topics: (1) the role of dental hygienists in Head Start
programs, (2) what Head Start staff should do if a child experiences an
oral injury, (3) what should be included in an oral health first aid
kit, and (4) how to prevent oral injury. Where possible, the answers
are based on scientific evidence. Where scientific evidence is
inconclusive or unavailable, the answers are based on expert opinion.
Citations of relevant Head Start Program Performance Standards and
references are included.
Contact: National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center,
Georgetown University, Box 571272, Washington, DC 20057-1272.
Telephone: (202) 784-9771; fax: (202) 784-9777; e-mail: info@mchoralhealth.org; Web
site: http://www.mchoralhealth.org.
Available at no charge from the Web site at http://www.mchoralhealth.org/HeadStart/FAQs/index.html.
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3. Matthew's Story (videotape excerpt)
This streaming videotape illustrates an example of oral health services
that children and families receive while enrolled in Head Start. The
segment was excerpted from the videotape titled Embracing Our Future,
which focuses on how Early Head Start and Head Start are making a
difference in the lives of four children and their families.
Contact: National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center,
Georgetown University, Box 571272, Washington, DC 20057-1272.
Telephone: (202) 784-9771; fax: (202) 784-9777; e-mail: info@mchoralhealth.org; Web
site: http://www.mchoralhealth.org.
Available at no charge from the Web site at http://www.mchoralhealth.org/HeadStart/materials/matthew.html.
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4. Experience and Policy Implications of Children
Presenting with Dental Emergencies to U.S. Pediatric Dentistry Training
Programs
This study sought to describe and substantiate the experiences of
children, their families, and their caregivers with children’s oral
pain and to explore implications of these experiences for public
policy. Among children presenting to pediatric dentistry training
programs with oral pain, 28% were under age 6, 57% were Medicaid
recipients, and 38% were regarded by their dentists as having “likely
or obvious” functional impairment. Parent reports indicated that 59% of
the children had "poor or fair oral health," and 29% had experienced a
prior dental emergency in the previous year. Pain, experienced for
several days by 73% of children, was associated with difficulty eating,
sleeping, attending school, and playing. Parent-reported barriers to
seeking oral health care included missed work (24%), transportation
costs (12%), and arranging child care (10%).
Edelstein B, Vargas CM, Candelaria D, Vemuri M. 2006. Pediatric
Dentistry 28(5):431-437. Abstract available at http://www.aapd.org/searcharticles/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=2119.
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5. Oral Health in Women During Preconception and
Pregnancy: Implications for Birth Outcomes and Infant Oral Health
This literature review addresses the potential influence of a woman's
preconception and pregnancy experience with periodontal disease and
dental caries on her overall health and her child's oral health. The
authors summarize research findings on oral health and (1) preterm
birth and other adverse pregnancy outcomes, (2) children's experience
with tooth decay, (3) preconception preventive oral health care, and
(4) access to oral health care during pregnancy. Conclusions and
recommendations for future directions are presented.
Boggess KA, Edelstein BL. 2006. Maternal and Child Health Journal
10(Suppl. 7):S169-S174. Abstract available at http://springerlink.com/content/1573-6628.
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The Oral Health Alert: Focus on Head Start is administered by the National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center (OHRC) at Georgetown University.
This publication is made possible by grant number HIFMC06348 from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) (Title V, Social Security Act), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). This funding is part of an intra-agency agreement between the Office of Head Start (OHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and MCHB, HRSA. The publication's contents are the responsibility of solely the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of or imply endorsement by ACF, DHHS, Georgetown University, HRSA, MCHB, OHS, or OHRC.
Permission is given to forward Oral Health Alert: Focus on Head Start, in its entirety, to others. For all other uses, requests for permission to duplicate and use all or part of the information contained in this publication should be sent to the address below.
We welcome your submissions, suggestions, and questions. Please contact us at the address below.
Managing Editor: Katrina Holt, M.P.H.,
M.S., R.D.
Writer/Administrator: Jolene Bertness, M.Ed.
Editor: Ruth Barzel, M.A.
Oral Health Alert: Focus on Head
Start
National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center
Georgetown University
Box 571272
Washington, DC 20057 1272
Phone: (202) 784 9771
Fax: (202) 784 9777
E-mail: OHAlertadmin@mchoralhealth.org
Internet: http://www.mchoralhealth.org/alert/index.html