Kids Dental…Working With Pediatricians To Promote Complete Health Care For Children

Kids Dental is seeking to partner with Pediatricians and family Physicians in helping parents develop a comprehensive approach to their children’s health. An effective working partnership amongst health care professionals will mean that parents can get access to more information, and kids grow up healthier…and with great smiles!

Kids Dental believes in a prevention-focused approach to dental and overall health. Prevention means helping kids develop healthy habits as soon as possible, and keep them as they grow. To further this goal, Kids Dental retains a registered dietician on staff, who helps parents understand the connections between good eating habits and good health. She is also available to help parents develop a tasty and nutritious eating program for their kids. You can meet Phyllis Reid-Jarvis on our staff profiles page.

Oral Health Risk Assessment Training for Pediatricians and other Child Health Professionals

The purpose of this training is to provide a concise overview of how to perform an oral examination and conduct an oral health risk assessment and triage for infants and young children. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, dental caries are the most prevalent infectious disease among North American children. More than 40% of children have tooth decay by the time they reach kindergarten, and millions of hours of school are lost each year because of dental problems.

Pediatricians can play an important role in children’s oral health outcomes, particularly since they typically see young children early and often. With proper training in how to perform an oral examination and how to conduct an oral health risk assessment, pediatricians and other health care professionals can minimize in children serious health consequences that include a higher risk of new carious lesions, hospitalizations and emergency room visits, delayed or insufficient physical development, loss of school days, and a diminished ability to learn. In addition, a child’s primary care physician is a key resource to families when racial, ethnic, socioeconomic or educational disparities create barriers to the child receiving regular dental care.

This training is based on the AAP policy statement, “Oral Health Risk Assessment Timing and Establishment of the Dental Home.” Although general information about oral health disease in children will be presented in the training, the primary focus will be on early childhood dental caries, seen in children aged 0 to 3 years.

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of the Oral Health Risk Assessment, participants will be able to:

• Describe the role of the child health professional in assessing children’s oral health.
• Discuss the pathogenesis of caries.
• Conduct an oral health risk assessment.
• Identify prevention strategies.
• State the need for establishing a dental home.
• Provide appropriate oral health education to families.

If you are a pediatrician interested in collaboration, please use the form below to discuss how we can work together to promote the well being of kids.

For your convenience you may refer your patients with this easy online referral form.