Infant Oral Health Care

Resident’s Name: Joanne Lewis Date: December 4, 2009

Guideline on Infant Oral Health

Background

- More than 40% of children have caries by the time they reach kindergarten.

- High caries rates occur in families; the children of mothers with high caries rates are at a higher risk of caries.

- It is well documented that there is vertical colonization of S mutans from mother to infant and that the acquisition of S mutans occurs at an average age of approximately 2 years.

- Modification of the mother’s oral flora at the time of the infants colonization can impact the child’s caries rate.

- The primary goal of early risk assessment is to screen for parent-infant groups who are at risk of ECC and who would benefit from early aggressive intervention.

- The ideal approach to infant oral health care is the early establishment of a dental home.

- Anticipatory guidance for the caregiver before and during the colonization process includes:

o Oral hygiene

o Diet

o Fluoride

o Caries removal

o Delay of colonization

o Xylitol gum

Recommendations

- All primary health care professionals who serve mothers and infants should provide caregiver education on the prevention of ECC. Oral health counseling during pregnancy is especially important.

- The etiology of ECC, oral health risk assessment, anticipatory guidance, and early intervention should be included in the curriculum of all medical, nursing, and allied health professional programs.

- Every infant should receive an oral health risk assessment from his/her primary health care provider by 6 months of age.

- Parents or caregivers should establish a dental home by 12 months of age.

- Health care professionals should support the establishment of a dental home for all infants by 12 months of age.