 |
|
|
Early Childhood Cavities Prevention
Early Childhood Cavities Prevention Early Childhood Cavities, which includes Baby Bottle Tooth Decay, is an infectious disease that can be prevented. In Oregon, approximately two-thirds of low-income children have cavities. This is an amount approximately 40% higher than for children that are not in low-income families. Early Childhood Cavities Prevention (ECCP) is a nationwide campaign to increase awareness about the importance of preventive oral health care in an infant's first years. CLICK HERE for information about Oral Health Care for Infants and Children 
Newly Revised Early Childhood Cavities Prevention Brochure It's never too early to prevent dental disease. Primary (baby) teeth are important because they act as placeholders for permanent teeth, aid in proper speech development, nutrition, and self esteem. Cavities can occur in children less than a year old. Our newly revised brochure, "Keep your baby smiling... Prevent early childhood cavities," provides useful information about the importance of healthy baby teeth and recommendations to prevent cavities. This colorful and easy to read brochure replaces the popular "Prevent Nursing Bottle Mouth" brochure. This brochure is geared towards parents and caregivers and is appropriate for use in medical, dental, and other social service or public health offices. Click on the image to download a pdf version of the brochure or email us at oral.health@state.or.us or by phone at 971-673-1376 to order copies. A Spanish version is also available. Early Childhood Cavities Prevention Coalition (ECCPC) The Oregon Public Health, as a member of the Early Childhood Cavities Prevention Coalition (ECCPC), has designed and distributed to targeted health care providers a packet of information about the problem of early childhood cavities and effective strategies for its prevention. This project is part of a larger campaign to increase awareness about the importance of baby teeth and the need to receive preventive dental care in baby's first years. The packet titled "It takes a village to grow healthy smiles" provides anticipatory guidelines and intervention strategies. This packet was disseminated statewide to pediatricians, family practice physicians, obstetrician/gynecologists, pediatric nurse practitioners, physician assistants, public health nurses, WIC programs, Early Head Start programs, tribal clinics, and Federally Qualified Health Centers. Since vulnerable populations of children have more oral problems and less access to care, we wanted to educate a variety of health care providers who routinely provide care for children from birth to age 3 and pregnant mothers. The Coalition is a community partnership that includes members from the Oregon Public Health, Office of Medical Assistance Programs, Oregon Dental Association, county health departments, Head Start, Indian Health Service, dental care organizations, private dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, nurses, and citizens of Oregon who are working to decrease cavities in Oregon's children. The mission of the Coalition is "To prevent and manage early childhood cavities through the implementation of primary prevention programs and interventions." The Oregon Oral Health Section was awarded a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation three year grant to promote the oral health of pregnant women and children under two years of age in three community pilot sites. Objectives for each pilot project include:
Additional objectives include increasing the number of providers who offer screening and treatment, and providing training for oral health providers. The Oregon Early Childhood Cavities Prevention Project of the Oregon Oral Health Section is coordinating these community-based pilot projects in three distinct geographic areas of the State. Each project was selected to demonstrate three levels of development and how each could work to implement an early childhood program. Click on the links below for expanded information about the progress and future planning for each of the following three pilot projects.
ECCP Training for Home Visiting Nurses A HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration) grant for $25,000 was awarded to encourage oral health prevention activities for underserved young children across the state. In partnership with the Community Health Liaison Oversight committee, the Early Childhood Cavities Prevention Coalition will provide trainings for public health nurses in the five public health regions. The trainings, in September and October 2004, cover the range of oral health prevention and referral issues for infants and pregnant women. Presenters include nurses, dental hygienists and public health minded dentists from the local region. An important focus of these trainings is to demonstrate the application of oral varnishes. In conjunction with these trainings, the State Oral Health Section partnered with the Babies First Coordinator to develop an ECCP manual. An additional HRSA grant has been awarded that will build on the trainings and other ECCP activities and will offer up to three communities funds to develop an ECCP prevention and treatment model, possibly drawing from the experience of the RWJ funded pilot projects. Click here for more information on grants received by Oral Health Section. (link to Funding / Grants Received/Proposed) CLICK HERE for a listing of resources related to early childhood cavities prevention. |
|
