The Oral Health Alert: Focus on Head Start is a monthly
newsletter that provides timely information about national campaigns
and initiatives, materials, and journal articles. Past issues are available at http://www.mchoralhealth.org/alert/archives.html
November 2008
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1. Oral Health Care for Young Children in Ohio
Casamassimo P, Barzel R, Holt K. 2008. Washington, DC: National
Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center.
This series of modules is designed to help clinicians learn about
providing oral health care to infants and children from birth through
age 3. The modules provide information about prevention, risk
assessment, and anticipatory guidance. Also included is guidance on how
to manage children’s behavior, with information on expectations,
parental involvement, and helpful techniques. Providing restorative
treatment is covered, with an emphasis on decision-making, positioning,
restoration options, and alternatives to restoration. Finally, the
modules address the management of emergency dental care.
Available at no charge from the Web site at http://www.ohiodentalclinics.com/curricula/care/index.html
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2. Financial Feasibility of a Model School-Based Dental
Program in Different States
Bailit H, Beazoglou T, Drozdowski M. 2008. Public Health Reports
123(6):761–767.
This study examined the financial feasibility of a school-based oral
health service delivery system for children enrolled in Medicaid. The
proposed system builds on schools' advantages in delivering screening
and preventive services and on private practices' and community
clinics' advantages in delivering other oral health services. The
analyses indicate that the model program is financially feasible in
states where Medicaid fees average 61% of mean private sector fees.
Available at http://www.publichealthreports.org/userfiles/123_6/761-767.pdf
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3. Fluoride Supplements, Dental Caries and Fluorosis: A
Systematic Review
Ismail AI, Hasson H. 2008. Journal of the American Dental Association
139(11):1457–1468.
This review assessed whether fluoride supplements prevent dental caries
and also whether they increase the risk for developing fluorosis. The
authors found that evidence supporting the effectiveness of supplements
for caries prevention in primary teeth is weak. In permanent teeth, the
daily use of supplements prevents dental caries. Using supplements
during the first 6 years of life, and especially during the first 3
years, is associated with a signficant increase in fluorosis.
Abstract available at http://jada.ada.org/cgi/content/short/139/11/1457
[Note: The American Dental Association, Council on Scientific Affairs,
is developing clinical recommendations based on the available
scientific evidence. Publication of the clinical recommendations is
anticipated in summer 2009.]
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4. Linking Mother and Child Access to Dental Care
Grembowski D, Spiekerman C, Milgrom P. 2008. Pediatrics
122(4):e805–e814.
This study evaluated (by race and ethnicity) whether children whose
mothers had a regular source of oral health care at baseline had
greater service use in the subsequent year than children whose mothers
did not have a regular source of care. The population-based sample
included children ages 3-6 who were enrolled in Medicaid and their
mothers in Washington. The authors found that service use was higher
for children with black or Hispanic mothers when their mothers had a
regular source of care.
Abstract available at http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/122/4/e805
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