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
May 2009
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1. 2008 Prevention Summit: A Summary Paper -- Bringing
Evidence and Best Practices into Health Center Dental Programs:
Improving Childhood Oral Health
This paper summarizes a summit held on December 8, 2008, in Washington,
DC, to focus on dental caries and periodontal disease in pregnant women
and children (infancy through adolescence). Participants reviewed and
recommended manageable and effective strategies that can be implemented
in health centers and other safety net dental programs.
National Network for Oral Health Access. 2009. Denver, CO: National
Network for Oral Health Access. 20 pp. Available at no charge from the
Web site at http://www.nnoha.org/goopages/pages_downloadgallery/download.php?filename=5457_3125512.pdf&orig_name=Prevention_Summary_Final_04.09.pdf.
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2. Community Water Fluoridation
This position statement provides an overview of community water
fluoridation, including a review of the scientific evidence and program
cost-effectiveness, a discussion of national recommendations, and
examples of how several state public health agencies are striving to
ensure optimal community water fluoridation coverage. [Funded in part
by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau]
Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. 2009. Arlington,
VA: Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. 2 pp.
Available at no charge from the Web site at http://www.astho.org/pubs/Fluoridationpositionstatement-Final.pdf.
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3. Head Start Oral Health Project: Evaluation Report,
2001-2008
This report provides a summary of activities conducted by the
Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors and states
between 2001 and 2008 to provide oral health expertise, training, and
technical assistance to the Head Start community. Contents include
background on partnerships, the evaluation methodology, continuing
needs, and benefits and lessons learned. Recommendations for continued
support of oral health activities in Early Head Start and Head Start
programs are discussed. [Funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau]
Geurink K, Isman B. 2009. New Bern, NC: Association of State and
Territorial Dental Directors. 26 pp. Available at no charge from the
Web site at http://www.astdd.org/docs/FinalASTDDHeadStartOralHealthProjectevalreport.pdf.
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4. Oral Health Coverage and Care for Low-Income Children:
The Role of Medicaid and CHIP
This policy brief provides an overview of oral health care access and
insurance coverage for children from families with low incomes. It
describes how problems obtaining oral health care disproportionately
affect children from families with low incomes and from minority
groups. It also discusses the fact that Medicaid and the Children’s
Health Insurance Program (CHIP) are major sources of oral health
coverage for millions of children from families with low incomes and
how the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009
guarantees dental benefits under CHIP beginning October 1, 2009.
Paradise J. 2009. Washington, DC: Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the
Uninsured. 6 pp. Available at no charge from the Web site at http://www.kff.org/medicaid/upload/7681-03.pdf.
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5. Child
Health in Child Care: A Multi-State Survey of Head Start and Non-Head
Start Child Care Directors
This study determined and compared health consultation, screening
prevalence, and childhood health risk of Head Start and non-Head Start
centers. The survey found marked differences between child health
concerns and practices reported by directors of Head Start and non-Head
Start centers. For example, even after adjusting for race and public
assistance, children who attended Head Start centers were perceived to
be at greater risk for oral health problems than those who attended
non-Head Start centers.
Gupta RS, Pascoe JM, Blanchard TC, Langkamp D, Duncan PM, Gorski PA,
Southward LH. 2009. Journal of Pediatric Health Care 23(3):143-149.
Abstract available at http://www.jpedhc.org/article/S0891-5245(08)00005-9/abstract.
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6. Children with Orofacial Clefts: Health-Care Use and
Costs Among a Privately Insured Population
This study used health insurance claims data to estimate health care
expenditures for infants and children (ages 10 and younger) with
orofacial clefts. The findings indicated that the costs for children
with an orofacial cleft were approximately eight times greater than for
children without a cleft. These findings suggest a substantial economic
burden associated with orofacial clefts, particularly for those with
other major, unrelated defects or syndromes.
Boulet SL, Grosse SD, Honein MA, Correa-Villasenor A. 2009. Public
Health Reports 124(3):447-453. Available at http://www.publichealthreports.org/userfiles/124_3/447-453.pdf.
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7. Hidden Consequences of Dental Trauma: The Social and
Psychological Effects
This paper reviews the multilevel effects of pediatric dental trauma.
Topics discussed are emergency care and subsequent treatment time,
costs incurred for the family and the health care system, and immediate
and long-term emotional and social impacts. The authors found that a
substantial proportion of emergency care is delayed, inappropriate, or
of suboptimal quality.
Lee JY, Divaris K. 2009. Pediatric Dentistry 31(2):96-110. Abstract
available at http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/aapd/pd/2009/00000031/00000002/art00002.
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8. Influence of Adapted Environment on the Anxiety of
Medically Treated Children with Developmental Disability
This study examines the influence of a sensory adapted environment
(SAE), during oral health care, on children with developmental
disabilities and compares their responses with those of children
without disabilities. Although both groups of children were
significantly more relaxed during oral health care in the SAE, children
with developmental disabilities relaxed to a greater extent than did
children without disabilities.
Editorial Note: SAE consisted of a designated room partially lit, with
controlled multi-sensory stimuli. The physical environment included
special lighting effects, relaxing music, vibration, and aromas.
Shapiro M, Sgan-Cohen HD, Parush S, Melmed RN. 2009. The Journal of
Pediatrics 154(4):546-550. Abstract available at http://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(08)00883-4/abstract.
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9. Oral and Dental Aspects of
Child Abuse and Neglect
This report reviews the oral aspects of physical and sexual abuse and
neglect and the role of physicians and dentists in evaluating such
conditions. The report addresses the evaluation of bite marks as well
as perioral and intraoral injuries, infections, and neglect.
Editorial Note: A statement of reaffirmation for this policy was
published on May 1, 2009.
Kellogg N, American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Child Abuse and
Neglect. 2005. Pediatrics 116(6):1565-1568. Abstract available at http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/pediatrics;116/6/1565.
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