Pediatric Dental-Focused Interprofessional Interventions

Course overview

Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is defined as the presence of one or more decayed (non-cavitated or cavitated lesions), missing (due to caries), or filled tooth surfaces in any primary tooth in a preschool-age child between birth and 71 months of age. The American Dental Association recognizes that ECC is a significant public health problem in selected populations and is also found throughout the general population. Association between ECC and the socioeconomic status has been well documented. Studies suggested that ECC is more commonly found in children who live in poverty or in poor economic conditions, who belong to ethnic and racial minorities, who are born to single mothers, and whose parents have low educational level, especially those of illiterate mothers. Due to prenatal and perinatal malnutrition or undernourishment, the children in these populations have an increased risk for enamel hypoplasia where exposure to fluorine is likely to be insufficient. These children also have a greater preference for sugary foods. A recent multilevel conceptual model, incorporating influences of ECC exerted at the individual, family, and community level, suggests that both social and behavioral change are important in the prevention of this oral disease. This basic-level course, appropriate for dentists, hygienists, and assistants, reviews conventional ECC management and discusses the need for unconventional providers and community workers as effective partners in the prevention and management of this disease.