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Study Summary

The Importance of the Age One Dental Visit

The Importance of the Age One Dental Visit.

Baker SD, Lee JY, Wright R.

Oral Health Research and Policy Center, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, 2019

The age one dental visit allows an early prevention and identification of dental disease. A dental visit at this age enables conservative techniques to be used to protect the baby‘s first teeth, such as silver diamine fluoride (SDF) and fluoride varnish for caries prevention. Babies and children with caries in their primary teeth are three times more likely to develop caries in their permanent teeth. Early and effective prevention of caries in the primary teeth has the potential to reduce suffering and expenses in later life.

Background

Dental caries remains the most common chronic disease of childhood. “Holes in the teeth” are more than four times more prevalent than asthma.1 According to national studies, in the USA roughly 50% of children experience caries in their primary teeth.2 Untreated dental disease in childhood can cause adverse effects well into adulthood. Early dental visits prevent future suffering and reduce high dental health costs in the future. For this reason, dental examinations for children should be established as regular screenings as early as possible.

Methodology

The authors of this work have summarized the findings of studies in the USA regarding caries in primary teeth and highlighted potential forms of prevention. The paper was developed based on a range of recommendations and statistical data from various US health authorities, such as the National Center for Health Statistics, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American Public Health Association, and reports from the Surgeon General3 of the USA.

Results

  • Dental caries is a preventable disease that leads to long-term pain and suffering. It can be inhibited through prevention when the child is a baby and ongoing preventive measures.4
  • The AAPD5, ADA6, APHA7, and AAP8 currently recommend that all children should be brought to the dentist once in their first year of life.9
  • The initial visit to the dentist before a child‘s first birthday offers the opportunity to inform parents about oral health and the best way to care for the first teeth and mouth.
  • Pediatric dental examinations allow for the earliest possible detection of caries in the primary teeth and enable the use of conservative techniques, including SDF and fluoride varnish to reduce and prevent caries.

1Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics. America`s Children in Brief: Key National Indication of Well-Being, Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office; 2016
2Dye BA, Thornton-Evans G, Li X, Iafolla TJ. Dental caries and sealant prevalence in children and adolescents in the United States, 2011-2012. NCHS Data Brief 2015;(191):1-8
3Direktor des öffentlichen Gesundheitsdienstes der USA
4Cassamassima PS et al. Beyond the dmft: the human and economic cost of early childhood caries. J Am Dent Assoc 2009;140(6)50-7
5American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
6American Dental Association
7American Public Health Association
8American Academy of Pediatrics
9American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, Guidelines on perinatal and infant oral health care. Pediatr Dent 2016;38(special issue):150-154; American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Policy on the dental home. Pediatr Dent 2018;40(6):29- 30; American Dental Association. ADA statement on early childhood caries 2004.; American Association of Public Health Dentistry. First oral health assessment policy 2004.

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