Examining the Cost Effectiveness of Early Dental Visits

Resident: Adam J. Bottrill
Date: 04JUN10
Region: Providence
Article title: Examining the Cost Effectiveness of Early Dental Visits
Author(s): Lee, Jessica Y. et al
Journal: Pediatric Dentistry
Page #s: pp. 102-104
Year: 2006, 28:2
Major topic: Cost, Early Dental Visits
Minor topic(s): Anticipatory Guidance
Type of Article: Topic summary
Main Purpose: To review the scientific evidenceand rationale for early dental visits.
Overview of method of research: Pseudo Meta Analysis

Key points in the article discussion:

I. General
A. AAPD, ADA and AAPHD all currently recommend all children have their first dental visit within the first year of life. AAP recommends the same early visit, but only for children who are at high risk for dental caries.
B. This early visit offers an opportunity to educate and inform parents about oral health and home care (anticipatory guidance)… similar to the “well child” visit to the pediatrician.

II. Dental Home
A. Evidence suggests that in order to prevent oral disease, preventive intervention must begin early in life.
B. A “dental home” is where a qualified dental health specialist delivers or supervises primary dental health care theat is comprehensive, continuously accessible, family centered, coordinated, compassionate, and culturally competent.
C. Studies show that many pediatricians and physicians recommend a low-risk child starting dental visits around 3yo.

II. Early Dental Visit
A. Children under age 6 have less than half the dental visits of those between 6 and 18yo.
B. By age 1, <>1yo accounted for MANY more of the restorative and emergency visits. Whereas children who began care at <1yo were much more likely to only have preventative visits.
C. This study also concluded that the children who began care later than age 1yo had much higher dental care-related costs.
D. This study may be flawed due to the fact that children who began care at <1yo likely had parents who were more motivated were thus likely to have better oral health.
E. What the authors would LIKE to think is that this improved oral health was due to the anticipatory guidance received by parents at such an early age.

Assessment of article: I think it is pretty safe to assume that the AAPD generally knows what they’re talking about. Kids should get to the dentist by age 1yo…. Period.