Dental Caries in Early Childhood

Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors
3858 Cashill Boulevard
Reno, NV 89509

Telephone: (775) 626-5008
Fax: (775) 626-9268
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: https://www.astdd.org
Available from the website.

This report discusses the strengths and weaknesses of early childhood caries (ECC) management strategies and outlines a vision for the future of oral health care that emphasizes innovative prevention and treatment, expanded outreach, and a value-based payment system. Topics include current practices, lessons learned, challenges, the future of ECC management, taking action to manage ECC, and evidence for best and promising practices and criteria. Practice examples are included. [Funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau]

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National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center
Georgetown University Washington, DC 20057

E-mail: [email protected]
Website: https://www.mchoralhealth.org
Available from the website.

This guide provides an overview of the topic and features descriptions of and links to materials on data and surveillance, policy, professional education and training, public education, and state and local programs. The resource guide also includes descriptions of organizations that can provide additional support for activities that promote the availability of high-quality oral health care for young children. [Funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau]

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National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center
Georgetown University Washington, DC 20057

E-mail: [email protected]
Website: https://www.mchoralhealth.org
Available from the website.

This curriculum is designed to help health and early childhood professionals working in community settings (e.g., Head Start, home visiting, WIC staff) promote oral health in the course of promoting general health for infants, children, and their families. Topics include tooth decay, risk factors, and prevention; oral health risk assessment and oral health screening; and anticipatory guidance for parents. Each of the four modules includes an overview, learning objectives, key points, a post-test, and resources. [Funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau]

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National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center
Georgetown University Washington, DC 20057

E-mail: [email protected]
Website: https://www.mchoralhealth.org
Available at no charge; also available from the website.

This brochure is designed to educate parents and other caregivers about oral hygiene and oral care for infants and young children. Topics include toothbrushing, eating healthy foods, and getting oral health care. Additional topics include the importance of primary teeth, tips to help parents keep their own mouths healthy, and finding a dentist. The brochure is written in simple language and is available in English, German, and Spanish. A trifold brochure in English and in Spanish is also available. [Funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau]

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National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center
Georgetown University Washington, DC 20057

E-mail: [email protected]
Website: https://www.mchoralhealth.org
Available from the website.

This fact sheet for health professionals provides information on preventing early childhood caries (ECC). Topics include what ECC is and who is at risk, the costs of ECC, and how ECC risk can be reduced. The fact sheet discusses the prevalence of ECC among various populations and why some populations are at higher risk than others, how ECC is treated and the impact of treatment on children and families, and effective strategies for preventing ECC. [Funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau]

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National Center on Health, Behavioral Health, and Safety
Washington, DC Telephone: (888) 227-5125
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://headstart.gov
Available from the website.

This series of handouts for pregnant women and parents of infants and young children provides simple tips on nutrition and oral health issues. Topics include brushing a young child’s teeth, choosing healthy drinks, encouraging children to drink water with fluoride, giving children healthy snacks, taking care of oral health for pregnant women, and taking care of an infant’s oral health. The series is written in simple language and is available in English and in Spanish.

• English
• Spanish

American Academy of Pediatrics
345 Park Boulevard
Itasca, IL 60143

Telephone: 800/433-9016
Secondary Telephone: 202/347-8600
E-mail: https://www.aap.org/en/pages/contact-us/contact-national-headquarters/
Website: https://www.aap.org
Available from the website.

This tool is designed to help health professionals implement oral health risk assessment for infants and children from birth to age 6 during health supervision visits. The tool, which can be used to document dental caries risk, presents a checklist for evaluating the oral health status of a child that includes risk factors, protective factors, and clinical findings, as well as an assessment and plan. Guidance on the factors in the checklist and color photographs depicting clinical findings are included. The tool is available in English and in Spanish.

• English
• Spanish

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
211 East Chicago Avenue, Suite 1600
Chicago, IL 60611-2637

Telephone: (312) 337-2169
Fax: (312) 337-6329
Website: http://www.aapd.org
Available from the website.

This report examines tooth decay among young children. Topics include the high prevalence of tooth decay in young children, the impact of tooth decay on quality of life, dental visits among young children, and the dental home. Also discussed are how parents can find a dental home for their child, Medicaid solutions to the problem of health disparities, child well-being, and advocacy. In addition, the report looks at implications of the Affordable Care Act for pediatric oral health.

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North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Oral Health Section
2001 Mail Service Center 5505 Six Forks Road
Raleigh, NC 27699-2001

Telephone: (919) 855-4800
Fax: (919) 870-4805
Website: https://www.dph.ncdhhs.gov/oral-health
Available from the website.

This fact sheet presents questions to help parents determine whether their child is at high risk for tooth decay and provides suggestions for treating tooth decay in the child. It also offers tips for parents to prevent tooth decay in their child, including brushing with fluoridated toothpaste, not putting the child to bed with any food or drinks other than water, making sure the child drinks fluoridated water, limiting sugary foods and drinks, giving the child only water to drink between meals, and scheduling regular dental visits beginning at age 1.

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U.S. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite LL100
Rockville, MD 20852

Fax: (240) 453-8280
E-mail: https://odphp.health.gov/about-odphp/contact-us#socialmedia-email
Website: https://odphp.health.gov/
Available from the website.

This resource provides an overview of steps parents can take to prevent tooth decay in their children, including brushing with fluoride toothpaste, other ways to use fluoride and fluoride supplements, giving children healthy food and drinks, dental checkups, and sealants. A companion resource on adult tooth and gum care is also available from the website.

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U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
540 Gaither Road
Rockville, MD 20850

Telephone: (301) 427-1584
Website: http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org
Available from the website.

This statement provides recommendations for primary care clinicians about how to prevent tooth decay in infants and children under age 5. Recommendations include prescribing oral fluoride supplements starting at age 6 months for infants and children whose water supply is deficient in fluoride, applying fluoride varnish to the teeth of all infants and children starting at the age of primary tooth eruption, and routinely screening infants and children under age 5 for caries lesions.

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University of Hawaii at Manoa, Nancy Atmospera-Walch School of Nursing
2528 McCarthy Mall, Webster Hall 402
Honolulu, HI 96822

Telephone: 808-956-8522
Fax: 808-956-3257
Website: http://www.nursing.hawaii.edu/
Available from the website.

These resources offers instructions for how to provide five essential oral health services (caries risk assessment, knee-to-knee oral examination, fluoride varnish application, education/anticipatory guidance, and referral for a dental home) during a well-child visit. The tool also includes steps for fluoride varnish application and photographs to help health professionals identify tooth decay in infants and young children. A fluoride-varnish-progress-note template is included.

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