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IHS Early Childhood Caries Collaborative

ECC Collaborative Information
Best Practices
Information about best practices in the prevention and early intervention of ECC.
BSS
The Basic Screening Survey (BSS) is a survey tool that is used by the majority of state dental programs.
Caries Stabilization
Caries stabilization involves using fluoride-releasing glass ionomer for interim therapeutic restorations (ITRs), resin and glass ionomer sealants, and topical fluoride.
ECC Packet
The Early Childhood Caries Packet is a folder that was mailed out to all IHS, Tribal, and Urban dental clinics.
ECC Program Spotlight
Highlights a local program that has increased access for 0-5 year olds.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Answers to some of the questions that have been asked from dental staff and community partners.
Fluoride Varnish
Providing dental teams and our medical and community partners with information about fluoride varnish.
Resources
Links to PowerPoint presentations, online courses, dental support centers, and other helpful information to support the ECC Collaborative in your community.
IHS Division of Oral Health ECC Collaborative

Early Childhood Caries (ECC, early childhood tooth decay) is an infectious disease that can start as soon as an infant’s teeth erupt. ECC can progress rapidly and may have a lasting detrimental impact on a child’s health and well-being. ECC is a serious health problem.1 ECC is defined as any caries experience in a child under 6 years of age.2 The 1999 Oral Health Survey of American Indian and Alaska Native Dental Patients found that 79% of children between the ages of 2-5 years had experienced dental caries, and 68% of this age group had untreated decay at the time of the dental examination.3

The Indian Health Service (IHS) Early Childhood Caries (ECC) Collaborative is a multi-faceted program designed to enhance knowledge about early childhood caries prevention and early intervention among not only dental providers, but also all healthcare providers and the community. The collaborative provides the entire healthcare team with the tools to begin a successful ECC program. Increasing access to oral health care and evidence-based prevention is a collaborative effort that must include the oral health care team, medical providers, Community Health Representatives, Head Start staff, and Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) program staff. The Collaborative also provides the framework to dental providers for ECC early intervention focusing on "caries stabilization".

References:

  1. National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center. Promoting Awareness, Preventing Pain: Facts on Early Childhood Caries (ECC). 2004. Available online at www.mchoralhealth.org Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov .
  2. American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. 2008. Full definition available online at www.aapd.org Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov .
  3. Indian Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2000. The 1999 Oral Health Survey of American Indian and Alaska Native Dental Patients: Findings, Regional Differences and National Comparisons, Rockville, MD: Indian Health Service.

ECC Program Spotlight
Hopi Health Center

To roll out our initiative, we felt that it is important to acknowledge programs that already have, in place, a program to give broad access to the 0-5 year old age group with information, prevention, and early intervention. Each quarter we will pick a program, which we are aware of, that exemplifies the cooperation necessary to a successful ECC program. We will highlight the program here on the homepage and describe what is unique about the program. In this way, we believe you can learn from other Sites how they have implemented an ECC program.

This month's Spotlight highlights the role of The IHS Head Start Program in the ECC Collaborative. The Indian Health Service (IHS) Head Start Program has been involved as a partner in the national ECC Collaborative from its early stages. Read more ..




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