Infant Oral Health: An Emerging Dental Public Health Measure

Abstract

Infant oral health (IOH) is a preventive service advocated by major medical and dental organizations. IOH aims to prevent early childhood caries (ECC) and impart health strategies to families for continued oral health and prevention of future caries. IOH reaches across disciplines, is low cost, and is covered by Medicaid and many private dental payers. Increasing evidence points to immediate and long-term positive oral health outcomes of reduced disease, reduction in costly care, and reduction in ECC-associated morbidities.

Keywords: Dental public health; Infant oral health; Pediatric dentistry; Prevention; Well-child care.