American Academy of Pediatrics : Oral Health Home

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2008 AAP Oral Health Preceptorship Award

To encourage an understanding of the role pediatricians play in
providing oral health assessments for young children, the AAP Oral
Health Initiative is offering training opportunities to AAP members.
The awards are designed to provide the recipient with individualized
one-on-one training in performing oral health risk assessments,
maternal/caretaker oral assessment interviews, and the application of fluoride varnishes by a pediatric dentist or pediatrician with oral health training. Click here to access the program guidelines and application or contact wnelson@aap.org with questions. Applications are due electronically by May 9, 2008.

New CME Training
Announcing the Oral Health Risk Assessment:
Training for Pediatricians and Child Health Professionals.
This online module offers both CME and AAP credit for
health professionals. Click here to access the module.

Dental caries is the most common chronic disease affecting children in the United States. It is 5 times more common than asthma and 7 times more common than hay fever. Early childhood dental caries emerge within all cultural and economic pediatric populations. By the time children are in preschool (ages 2-3), 18.7% have at least 1 tooth with untreated caries. By early school (ages 5-9), 51.6% have either a carious lesion or a filling in a primary tooth. Overall, 58.6% children ages 5 to 17 have caries. Pediatricians and other child health professionals can have a major impact on oral health outcomes for children because of the opportunities provided by early intervention.

In response to this issue, the American Academy of Pediatrics in partnership with the federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB), have implemented the Oral Health Initiative. The purpose of the program is to promote improved child oral health by offering pediatricians and other child health professionals the tools and support they need to provide community-based, collaborative care.

This Web site has been developed by the Oral Health Initiative to provide pediatricians, child health professionals, and parents with information and resources related to oral health.

The information and resources provided are for educational purposes only. The PedsCare Oral Health Initiative is not engaged in rendering medical advice or professional services. The information provided through this Web site should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease. If you have health-related questions you should consult a health care professional.

This Web site is supported in part by Grant No. U93 MC 00184 from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (Title V, Social Security Act), Health Resources and Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services.