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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1. Help Me Smile: Oral Health Risk Assessment Protocols,
Training Modules, and Educational Materials for use with Families of
Young Children
This collection of materials provides oral health professionals with
protocols, modules, and educational materials to promote good oral
health for families with young children. The collection is divided into
the following sections: prenatal and mother, infancy (0-11 months),
toddler (12-35 months), and early childhood (3-5 years). Topics include
fluoride in the water; teeth cleaning; nutrition; the dental home; bad
breath, bleeding gums, and toothache; and “lift the lip” protocols for
infants and young children. Also included are handouts, a laminated and
illustrated flip chart, an instruction sheet, a checklist, and
instructions for obtaining a fluoride analysis of a water sample.
[Funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau]
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/materials/multiples/helpmesmile.
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2. Dental Radiographs: A Diagnostic Tool
This handout provides general information about the use of dental
radiographs (x-rays) as a diagnostic tool and is designed to prompt
discussion between a dentist and a child or parent about treatment
options. Topics include the purpose of dental radiographs, the
frequency of dental radiographic examinations, and radiographs and
pregnancy.
Contact: American Dental Association, 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago,
IL 60611-2678. Telephone: (312) 440-2500; fax: (312) 440-7494; e-mail: info@ada.org; Web site: http://www.ada.org. Available at no
charge from the Web site at http://www.ada.org/prof/resources/pubs/jada/patient/patient_67.pdf.
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3. Oral Health Care During Pregnancy and Early Childhood:
Practice Guidelines
These guidelines discuss early childhood caries and the importance of
oral health care during pregnancy. Topics include education during
prenatal visits to health and oral health professionals, management of
oral health problems in pregnant women, and oral health and hygiene for
infants and young children. Recommendations and guidelines are
included. Appendices include a sample form, nutrition guidelines,
Medicaid guidelines, radiograph prescription guidelines, recommended
periodicity of services and anticipatory guidance, resources, and
selected reviews. [Funded in part by the Maternal and Child Health
Bureau]
Contact: New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Dental Health,
Empire State Plaza, Tower Room 542, Albany, NY 12237-0619. Telephone:
(518) 474-1961; fax: (518) 474-8985; e-mail: oralhealth@
health.state.ny.us; Web site: http://www.nyhealth.gov/prevention/dental.
Available at no charge from the Web site at http://www.health.state.ny.us/publications/0824.pdf.
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4. Smiles For Ohio Fluoride Varnish Program for Primary
Care Providers
This training manual, which is intended for health professionals,
provides information about how to assess the oral health of infants and
young children at well child examinations to better enable these health
professionals to identify infants and children at risk for early
childhood caries. The manual also provides information about how to
implement the Smiles for Ohio Fluoride Varnish Program to apply
fluoride varnish to the teeth of high-risk children. The manual
includes presentation slides, information on making the program work in
practice, supply information, information about Medicaid reimbursement,
a selection of fluoride varnish literature, information about referral,
a list of additional resources, and handouts and anticipatory guidance.
A CD-ROM about the program and a copy of Bright Futures in Practice:
Oral Health -- Pocket Guide are included. [Funded by the Maternal and
Child Health Bureau]
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/materials/multiples/smilesforohio.
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5. Treatment of Periodontal Disease and the Risk of
Preterm Birth
Michalowicz et al. assessed whether nonsurgical periodontal treatment
in pregnant women reduces the risk of delivery before 37 weeks of
gestation and results in a higher birthweight and a reduced proportion
of infants who are small for gestational age. Researchers randomly
assigned participants (women who were between 13 and 17 weeks of
gestation at the beginning of the study) to receive periodontal
treatment either before 21 weeks (413 women) of pregnancy or after
delivery (410 women). Those in the treatment group received scaling and
root planing and oral hygiene instruction before 21 weeks of gestation,
as well as monthly tooth polishing and ongoing scaling and planing as
needed until delivery. Control group participants were offered the same
treatment after delivery. The authors found no significant difference
in birth outcomes among women treated for periodontal disease during
pregnancy vs. those in the control group who received treatment
postpartum. This study is one of the first to demonstrate that
treatment during pregnancy is safe and effective in improving the
periodontal status of women.
Michalowicz BS, Hodges JS, DiAngelis AJ, Lupo VR, Novak MJ, Bofill J,
Papanou PN, Mitchell DA, Matseoane S, Tschida PA for the OPT Study.
2006. The New England Journal of Medicine 355(18)1886-1894. Abstract
available at http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/abstract/355/18/1885.
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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