Improving Perinatal and Infant Oral

Health

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry

and Children’s Dental Health Project

Improving Perinatal and Infant Oral Health Project

Partnership: HRSA, Maternal and Child Health Bureau American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Children’s Dental Health Project

Alliance for Information on Maternal and Child Health

Purpose: Support membership organizations that have a maternal and child health focus

AIM Collaborative Goals Improve public and private Maternal and

Child Health programs

Encourage multidisciplinary collaboration

Raise awareness

Disseminate new information

Develop policies and clinical guidelines

Improve delivery of MCH care services

AIM partners American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) American Bar Association (ABA) Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP) Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) CityMatCH (University of Nebraska) Grantmakers for Children, Youth & Families (GCYF) Family Voices Grantmakers in Health (GIH) National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) National Business Group on Health (NBGH) National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) National Conference of State Legislatures Consortium (with NGA, ASTHO,

AMCHP) National Governors Association (NGA) National Healthy Start Association (NHSA) National Institute for Health Care Management (NIHCM) Today's Child Communications Maternal and Child Health Bureau

Current Trends in Perinatal and Infant Oral Health

1 in 5 women who gave birth in 2004 saw a dentist during pregnancy

Recent studies report associations between oral diseases and an increased risk for poor birth and pregnancy outcomes (preterm birth, low birthweight, and gestational diabetes)

CDC: tooth decay in baby teeth has increased 15% among U.S. toddlers and preschoolers ages 2 to 5 years old. During the 1999-2004, 28% of young children had experienced cavities

Dental caries is the most common, chronic disease of childhood, and is usually established before age 2

Prevention is cost-effective: Low-income children who have their first dental visit by age one are less likely to have subsequent restorative or ER visits, and their average dentally related costs are almost 40% lower over a 5 year period than children who receive their first visit preventive visit after age one

Goals of Improving Perinatal and Infant Oral Health

1.Expand availability of prenatal oral health care

2.Expand availability of infant oral health care

3.Raise public awareness regarding dental care for pregnant women and infants

Goal 1: Expand availability of prenatal oral health care

Addressing existing barriers: Disseminate resources on dental care for

pregnant women to clinicians, health educators, and patients

Identify, develop, and disseminate resources on preventive oral health guidance for infants

Primary Activities Maternal and Child Health Bureau

Perinatal Oral Health Workgroup Collaboration with New York State

Department of Public Health New Parent Kit pilot study Inclusion of perinatal component in AAPD

Guideline on Infant Oral Health Care Resource guide for Medicaid Coverage of

Dental Services for Pregnant Women Provision of CE to AAPD membership

Goal 2: Expand availability of infant oral health care

Addressing existing barriers: Expand adoption of age one dental visit

and dental home policies by pediatric and general dentists

Expand dental care for infants at greatest risk for early oral disease

Primary Activities Pre-doctoral dental school survey of infant and

toddler oral health curricula Provision of CE to AAPD membership on

promoting infant oral health Promotion of age one and dental home policies by

general dentists, hygienists, and pediatricians, and promotion of training resources

AAPD Periodicity Schedule Initiative Documents: ECC chapter, model benefit, ASTDD

Best Practices

Goal 3: Raise public awareness regarding dental care for pregnant

women and infants

Addressing existing barriers: Target AAPD’s public awareness

campaigns and policies to pregnant women

Promote inclusion of perinatal oral health components in public health campaigns

Development of a cadre of professionals to provide training on science-based perinatal and infant oral health practices

Primary Activities Research on health literacy and health messaging Distribution of AAPD public education resources,

policies, and recommendations Development and distribution of parent education

materials, materials for MCH providers, and policy briefs

Children’s Dental Health Month parent education events

Provision of TA and consultation Exploring new, nontraditional collaborative

relationships

Summary Dental disease is transmissible, chronic,

and progressive, but it is also SOLVABLE Together we can promote the oral health

of children and ensure they begin life with the best chances to succeed

Contact Information Jessie Buerlein, MSW

Project Manager, Improving Perinatal and Infant Oral Healthjbuerlein@cdhp.org (202) 833-8288 ext. 208

Dr. Ned L. Savide, Chair, AAPD Ad Hoc Committee on Perinatal Oral Healthnlsavide@aol.com