Improving Perinatal and Infant Oral Health

1. Improving Perinatal and Infant Oral Health American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and Children’s Dental Health Project

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. Contact Information • Jessie Buerlein, MSW Project Manager, Improving Perinatal and Infant Oral Health jbuerlein@cdhp.org (202) 833-8288 ext. 208 • Dr. Ned L. Savide, Chair, AAPD Ad Hoc Committee on Perinatal Oral Health nlsavide@aol.com