 Despite the fact that dental caries is nearly 100% preventable1, it remains the most common chronic childhood disease – five times more common than asthma and seven times more common than hay fever2. Caries is a saliva-mediated infectious disease often passed from mothers to their babies when they kiss and share food3. Perinatal and young child oral health is of great significance because children who suffer tooth decay often experience a life-long struggle with chronic disease and pain. Tooth decay not only severely impacts systemic health4 but also our communities through lost school and work hours and increased healthcare costs5.
In order to address what the US Surgeon General has referred to as a “silent epidemic”, leading health organizations, including the American Dental Association (ADA), the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), have all agreed that comprehensive dental care should begin no later than age one6,7. These organizations strongly support the use of caries-risk assessment (CRA) tools to establish personalized oral disease prevention plans for pediatric patients and their caregivers7,8. Additionally, organizations such as the ADA, AAPD and American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) have all recommended that good oral health should begin before birth and that women should obtain and maintain dental health during pregnancy6,8,9.
Born from these evidence-based recommendations, the Montana Dental Association (MDA) and Montana State Office of Medicaid have collaborated to establish the statewide AbCd (Access to Baby and Child Dentistry) Montana program to ensure not only that all children have a dental home by age one, but that they receive clinically proven disease preventing services. Through AbCd Montana, the MDA has a vision that more of Montana’s children will receive increased comprehensive dental care at an earlier age thereby reducing disease and suffering and improving quality of life. The AbCd Montana program accomplishes this lofty goal by pairing enhanced Medicaid reimbursement for very young children with advanced training and support for dentists and much needed case worker support for vulnerable patients and their dental health care providers.
To learn more about AbCd Montana and perinatal and young child oral health care see our links to the right!
1) The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. AAPD Cites ways to prevent risk for children’s tooth decay. AAPD.org
2) Evans CA, Kleinman DV. The surgeon general’s report on America’s oral health: opportunities for the dental profession. J Am Dent Assoc. 2000; 131(12):1721–1728.
3) Berkowitz R. Mutans Streptococci: Acquisition and Transmission. Pediatr Dent 2006; 28:106-109.
4) Acs G. Effects of nursing caries on body weight in a pediatric population. Pediatr Dent. 1992;14 :302 –305.
5) Gift HC, Reisine ST, Larach DC. The social impact of dental problems and visits. Am J Public Health. 1992;82 :1663 –1668.
6) The Council on Clinical Affairs. American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Policy on the Dental Home. Reference Manual 2004-2005.
7) Section on Pediatric Dentistry. American Academy of Pediatrics. Oral Health Risk Assessment Timing and Establishment of the Dental Home. Pediatrics Vol. 111 No. 5 May 2003.
8) Council on Clinical Affairs. American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Guideline on Infant Oral Health Care. Reference manual 2005-2006.
9) Task Force on Periodontal Treatment of Pregnant Women. American Academy of Periodontology. J Periodontol. 2004; 75(3): 495.
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