Dental Health Objectives For Children For The Year 2000

NOVEMBER 1996

In considering dental health objectives for the year 2000 it is reasonable to focus the discussion on those objectives which may be realized by that tie and those which might be instituted but not realized until after the year 2000.

INSTALLMENT 1. No-Cavity Plan A preventive approach, which has been termed the "no-cavity plan", is being advocated by pediatric dentistry educators and practitioners throughout the country. In addition to water fluoridation, optimal systemic supplemental and topical flouride, the daily use of appropriate amounts of furoide dentifrice and the placement of pit and fissure sealeants: the no-cavity approach utilizes nutritional counseling, strict home oral hygiene care, the maintenance of existing restorations, and regular professional attention beginning with patient oral evaluation and parental counseling no later than 12 months of age.

INSTALLMENT 2. Early Intervention Early intervention should be an objective for the year 2000. By the year 2000 dentists and parents should have dismissed the idea that 3 years is the appropriate age for the first dental visit. If prevention is to be maximized, initial examinations and the education of parents in the application of preventive procedures should begin during the first year of life.

During the past decade it has become clear that parental consultation with a pediatric dentist or other dental health professionals - prior to an infant's first birthday - can help ensure that the infant's mouth is appropriately cleaned regularly, that the infant obtains adequate systemic fluoide, and that the infant has no existing medical conditions, habits, or muscular imbalance which could lead to malocclusion, gigival or periodontial disease, or dental caries. Consequently, we recommend a dental health objective urging early parental counseling and dental/oral examinations for all infants prior to 12 months of age.

Dental Health Objectives for Children for the Year 2000

JANUARY 1997

In considering dental health objectives for the year 2000 it is reasonable to focus the discussion on those objectives which may be realized by that tie and those which might be instituted but not realized until after the year 2000.

Complete cavity free population.

Access to dental facilities not from a physical point of view but rather from a socioeconomic view should take presidence when allocating funds to children in poor areas. Only then can we place cavities in a low risk disease group.

INSTALLMENT 3. - Infant "Caries" Still too many people allow their child to go to sleep with a bottle in order to go to sleep themselves. The bottle is used to comfort the infant in thinking of his mother's mamellon and milk. However, the bottle is also the culprit for the "nursing bottle syndrome". The sugars in the milk or other liquid ferment in the mouth and rotten the teeth. Solution: place water in the bottle and get up if the infant needs you.

INSTALLMENT 4. - Fluorides Some people feel that fluoride is a chemical added to sell toothpaste however studies have showed that fluoridated waters have decreased the prevalent caries in the population drinking the water. Fluorides should be taken as a pill if the surroundings do not offer it in the diet. Dentist will also be able to give the child a pure form of the fluoride at the office for about 1 minute (not to be ingested).

Dr. Michael Farahnic

Always Your Choice is proud to acknowledge Dr. Michael Farahnick for his authorship in the dental articles. Dr. Farahnick is a practitioner of Dentistry, including both prevention and treatment. His practice involves all age groups and he has expertise in the area of accomodating the patient who has dental fears. He also is an instructor of dentistry at New York University School of Dentistry. We are proud to refer to Dr. Farahnick and he has become the dentist of many of our patients at the office. His contribution to our web site is greatly appreciated.

Dr. Michael Farahnick's office is located at: 405 Lexington Avenue (The Chrysler Building) Suite 6900 New York, NY 10174 - 0360 His office may be
reached at : 212 - 557 - 1234 E-mail:softstick@tiac.net