Age, Purpose, and Perception With Regard to the First Dental Visit of Children of Goa State in India.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Early first dental visits (FDVs) are crucial for educating and informing parents about their children's oral health. The age for the FDV is dependent on several factors and data regarding the same is unavailable in Goa state. The aim of the study was to determine the age, purpose, and parental perception with regard to the FDV of children in Goa State. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry for children reporting for their FDV. Data for the study was recorded from validated and pilot-tested questionnaires. Statistical analysis was performed using the STATA (version 17; StataCorp LLC, College Station, TX) software. Categorical variables were summarized using frequencies and percentages. Continuous variables were summarized using means and standard deviations. RESULTS: A total of 544 children were included in the study. The mean age of the FDV was 7.15 ± 2.98 years. Out of the total, 257 (47.24%) children reported with pain. The absence of dental problems was the reason why 485 (89.01%) children and their parents had not visited earlier. Most parents perceived the FDV to be important but were unaware of the ideal age for the same. CONCLUSIONS: Children in Goa state have delayed FDVs. Although parents recognized the importance of early dental visits and oral health, their knowledge regarding the recommended age was found to be deficient.

Knowledge, Awareness, and Practice of Pediatricians Regarding Infant Oral Health Care and Early Childhood Caries in the State of Assam, India.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Pediatricians are the first point of contact for evaluating a child's health. Hence, our study was done to evaluate the knowledge, awareness, and practice of pediatricians regarding infant oral health care and early childhood caries (ECC) in the state of Assam. METHODS: A close-ended questionnaire was circulated among the pediatricians of Assam. Data regarding knowledge, awareness, and practice involving the oral health of children and ECC was collected. RESULTS: A total of 110 pediatricians participated in the study and the data obtained was subjected to chi-square analysis. Most of the participants (n=64, 67%) displayed adequate knowledge regarding dental caries and the way to identify them. Although most of the participants knew about practices leading to dental caries, they were lacking in knowledge regarding the deleterious effect of bottle feeding and related habits 65 (50-60%). Also, most of the participants (n=69, 62%) failed to educate the caregivers of the child regarding early dental visits. CONCLUSION: The majority of pediatricians displayed adequate knowledge regarding dental caries and their prevention but failed to educate the parents and caregivers of children regarding the importance of first dental visits and the maintenance of oral health.

Mothers' Awareness of the Correlation between Their Own and Their Children's Oral Health.

Pregnancy is a critical time for a woman since it involves a series of changes in the body due to hormonal fluctuations and changes that can also influence the oral cavity and can lead to certain pathologies, such as carious lesions. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated over the years that having poor dental health during pregnancy might have a significant impact on the child's oral health. The aim of the study is to analyze the level of knowledge and information of mothers on the importance of oral health care before, during, and after pregnancy as a preventive factor for the future oral health of the child. A questionnaire of 13 multiple choice questions was formulated and delivered from 24 February 2022 to 13 July 2022, aimed at women with at least one child. The Department of Pediatric Dentistry of the Borgo Cavalli Clinic in Treviso and the Maxillofacial Surgery Department of Santa Maria di Ca' Foncello Hospital in Treviso were the data collection centers. Crosstabs with dependency variables were used to statistically analyze the results. The study cohort consists of 411 women, whose responses showed that the majority did not have dental visits before and during pregnancy, which is why 74% of the whole sample did not request or receive information from professionals. Most mothers knew that they had to cleanse their child's mouth and, among them, those who responded more correctly, that is, who started before the eruption of the teeth, had received instructions from professionals. However, the low frequency of mothers performing dental checks during pregnancy did not allow mothers to become aware of the possibility of transmitting the carious lesions to their child, as conscious mothers represent 21%. Education from dentist and dental hygienists, gynecologists, and pediatricians is essential since they have an impact on mothers' habits and behaviors and ensure favorable oral health for both the mother and the child.

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Video-based Intervention on the Knowledge of Infant Oral Health among New Mothers.

Background and objectives: Infant oral health is the foundation upon which preventive dental health education must be built to enhance the conditions for a disease-free oral cavity. Majority of the mothers are ignorant about their oral health and also about the fact that their oral health status affects that of their babies. Educational videotapes have proved to be effective in educating mothers on various child health issues. So the objectives of this study were to educate the mothers about the need for infant oral health care, compare the level of mother's knowledge on infant oral health before and after the video presentation and assess the effectiveness of the presentation. Methodology: An interactive educational video presentation containing evidence-based information about infant oral health care and prevention was developed. This presentation was based upon information provided by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) on anticipatory guidance. It includes the persuasive message on maternal oral health during preconception and pregnancy and its implication on birth outcomes, vertical transmission of Streptococcus mutans, infant oral health, the risk for early childhood caries (ECC), and increased caries experience on permanent teeth if primary teeth are affected. Emergency care for infant oral trauma, consequences of traumatic injuries to the primary dentition from an aspect of possible damage to the developing tooth, dietary habits, and oral hygiene behaviors. It also emphasizes the timing of the first dental visit and the periodicity of dental screenings. The survey was designed to compare the effectiveness of instructional videotaped persuasive messages by using pre- and post-questionnaires. Two hundred mothers of infants below the age of 12 months were included in the study. They were asked to fill out the questionnaires before and after the presentation on the same visit. Results: The results showed a highly significant improvement in knowledge (p< 0.05) as assessed by the proportion of correct responses following a single viewing of the AV-aid. Conclusion: The knowledge of new mothers on infant oral health care was inadequate, and there was an improvement in their knowledge of infant oral health care after the instructional video presentation. An instructional video presentation is an effective tool for improving the oral health knowledge of new mothers. Significance: By this study, we want to inculcate the habit of oral hygiene maintenance among the mothers, which indirectly affects the infant's oral health. Through this study, we educated the mothers regarding infant oral health care, which significantly improved their knowledge. How to cite this article: Singh R, Patil SS, K Madhu, et al. Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Video-based Intervention on the Knowledge of Infant Oral Health among New Mothers. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2022;15(3):280-286.

The willingness to attend the first dental visit within 1 year of age: An analysis applying Andersen's behavioral model of health service utilization.

BACKGROUND: The first dental visit (FDV) within 1 year of age is important for establishing good oral health behaviors for young children, but delayed FDVs are common. AIM: This study aimed to investigate the predisposing, enabling, and need factors of maternal willingness to attend the FDV for infants. DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among mothers of infants aged 11-14 months. A questionnaire was developed based on Andersen's behavioral model of health service utilization. Data regarding the FDV, FDV willingness, and reasons for not attending the FDV were collected. Logistic regression models were used to investigate the associated factors. RESULTS: Of 658 infants, only 2.7% (18) had a Thirty percent (191/640) of mothers reported their willingness to attend the FDV in the next 3 months. Nearly two-thirds of mothers reported not attending the FDV since their children's teeth were healthy. Maternal perceptions of their infants' oral health status were negatively associated with willingness to undergo the FDV, whereas family social support was positively associated with willingness to undergo the FDV. CONCLUSIONS: Need factors play a key role in the utilization of FDV. Improving parental awareness of FDV might help parents voluntarily attend the FDV, and offering support from the family and healthcare system levels enables access to paediatric dental care.

First dental visit of children-A mixed-method approach.

BACKGROUND: First dental visit (FDV), the essence of preventive paediatric dentistry, has a significant impact on the child's oral health. Mixed-method research provides meaningful insight into the multiple facets of FDV. AIM: To evaluate the average age and most common reason for FDV of children in Namakkal district and to explore the individual perceptions of parent's view on their child's FDV. METHOD: Sequential mixed-method approach was employed. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey on FDV was conducted among 4543 parents of children <6 years. The second phase included a semi-structured face-to-face qualitative interview for 10 parents. RESULTS: Out of 4543 children, only 31.0% had FDV. Majority of children (49.0%) had FDV after 5 years of age. Dental caries was the most common reason for FDV (75.0%). Three themes were derived from the interviews, namely FDV experiences, barriers to child dental care, and solutions for an early dental visit. CONCLUSION: Children in Namakkal district had delayed FDV (>5 years). The most common reason for FDV was dental caries. Lack of knowledge, lack of interdisciplinary practices, and social and financial barriers seem to have influenced the FDV of lack of knowledge these children.

Sociodemographic and behavioural determinants of early childhood caries knowledge among expectant mothers in Kuwait.

PURPOSE: Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is a highly prevalent disease in Kuwait. It poses health, economic, and social implications affecting patients, their families and communities. ECC awareness campaigns targeting expectant mothers hold a promising potential as primary prevention tools. Understanding the baseline of ECC knowledge (ECC-K) is an important foundational step in planning such interventions. The aim of this study was to assess the level of ECC-K in a sample of expectant mothers, and to identify the sociodemographic and behavioural determinants of that knowledge. METHODS: A multiple-choice questionnaire was distributed to 430 expectant women from one maternity hospital in Kuwait. The questionnaire gathered information on the demographics, ECC-K, and the oral health behaviours of the participants. Bivariate analysis assessed the relationship between ECC-K scores and the different socio-demographic variables and oral health practices of the participants. A multiple linear regression model was developed to identify the predictors of ECC-K scores RESULTS: The response rate was 94% (n = 405). The mean ECC-K score was 6.4 [standard deviation (SD) = 2.5] out of a maximum score of 14. Age, education, number of children, frequency of dental visits, and flossing frequency were significantly associated with ECC-K levels (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: ECC-K among this cohort of expectant mothers was inadequate. Educational interventions are needed to foster better ECC preventive practices.

Knowledge and attitude on infant oral health among graduating medical students in kulasekaram.

AIM: This study was intended to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes regarding infant's oral health care among graduating medical students from Kulasekaram, Tamil Nadu. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional survey research design was employed in this study. Self-administered questionnaire of the validated "Graduating medical students' Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Infant's oral health care" were utilized to ascertain the baseline levels of knowledge and attitudes of graduating medical students' in Kulasekaram hospital. In this regard, a preliminary study with a convenience sample of 100 medical students was conducted so as to assess the knowledge of infant oral health care among graduating medical students in Kulasekaram. This study, while limited in sample size, benefits the general practitioners as target readers to assess the abnormalities in children at early stages of life. RESULTS: The results of the study revealed that the mean percentage score overall was 65.7%. Only 3.2% of participants obtained a passing score of 80% or greater. Widespread knowledge deficits and poor attitudes among graduating medical students were noted in this study, particularly in the domain of pharmacological management of pain. Positive correlations were observed between the respondents' score and level of education. Further analysis revealed respondents had an inaccurate self-evaluation of their pain management knowledge. CONCLUSION: The results of this study reveal that there is dearth of knowledge and attitudes of graduating medical students' regarding infant oral health care. Educational and quality improvement initiatives in oral health care of infants could enhance medical student's knowledge baseline in the area of oral health care and possibly improve practices.

Assessment of Knowledge and Attitude of Expectant Mothers Regarding Effect of Their Oral Health and Its Influence on the Infant Oral Health.

INTRODUCTION: Good oral health during pregnancy and infancy is important for the overall health and well-being of mother and child, respectively. AIM: To assess the knowledge and attitude of expectant mothers regarding the effect of their oral health and its influence on infant oral health. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among expectant mothers. They were randomly selected from those reporting to the Department of Gynecology in Government and Private Hospitals in Durg, Chhattisgarh. A total of 124 closed-ended, self-administered questionnaire were filled by participants, which had 21 items addressing the knowledge and attitude of expectant mothers regarding their oral health and oral hygiene practices; the transmission of bacteria from mother to child; cariogenic food consumption; effect of periodontal disease on infant's teeth and safe trimester for dental treatment. Data were tabulated and subjected to statistical analysis. RESULTS: Significant differences were found in expectant mothers' knowledge and attitude based on their age (p = 0.02, 0.07), education level (p = 0.001, 0.95), trimester (p = 0.83, 0.43), and number of pregnancies (p = 0.05, 0.10), respectively. CONCLUSION: The knowledge related to the oral health of pregnant women during pregnancy was found to be low and needs to be improved. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Execution of educational programs along with other healthcare professionals to motivate expectant mothers. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Pattanshetti K, Kothari HP, Tiwari J, et al. Assessment of Knowledge and Attitude of Expectant Mothers Regarding Effect of Their Oral Health and Its Influence on the Infant Oral Health. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2020;13(5):471-475.

Effectiveness of an integrated perinatal oral health assessment and promotion program on the knowledge in Indian pregnant women.

BACKGROUND: Oral health during pregnancy plays a crucial role in the overall health and well-being of pregnant women. Evidence shows that most young children acquire cariogenic organisms from their mothers. Poor maternal knowledge about oral diseases combined with inappropriate feeding can lead to severe caries among young children. The aim of study was to assess the oral health status of pregnant women and to evaluate the gain in their knowledge after educational session in an antenatal setting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It is a pre- and post-intervention study carried out on the pregnant women (n = 198) attending an antenatal clinic in a tertiary care hospital. A specially designed semi-structured 14-point questionnaire was used to assess the pre- and post-knowledge and attitude to the oral health. Each participant was educated for self and infant oral care with the help of a specially prepared colored printed booklet. Kruskal-Wallis test was used to explore the associations between the age, education and socioeconomic class and knowledge; Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare pre- and post-knowledge score. RESULTS: Median preoral health knowledge-attitude score was found to be 4 (0-8) and was found to be associated with the level of education (P = 0.014) and socioeconomic class (0.019). There was a significant improvement in the median postknowledge score to 7 (2-10) (P < 0.001) following oral health educational session in all categories. CONCLUSIONS: An integrated preventive oral health checkup and educational program to pregnant women can benefit the dental health of the women and children. Prenatal care workers can be involved to disseminate the oral health awareness to pregnant women during antenatal visits.

Knowledge, attitudes and behaviour regarding the infant oral health visit: are dentists in Ireland aware of the recommendation for a first visit to the dentist by age 1 year?

AIM: To assess the knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of dentists nationwide in Ireland regarding the infant oral health visit, and also to elucidate whether dentists were aware of the recommendation for a first dental visit by age 1 year and of what care should be provided at this visit. METHODS: A validated 10-item questionnaire was distributed to a representative sample of non-paediatric dentists (non-PDs) and paediatric dentists (PDs) practicing in Ireland. The questionnaire focused on respondents' demographics in addition to their knowledge, attitudes and behaviour regarding the infant dental visit. RESULTS: Seventy-three percent of non-PDs reported seeing patients aged 0-36 months. Compared to all PD respondents, 58% of non-PDs believed that the first dental visit should occur by age 1 year. Furthermore, non-PDs provided the same care as PDs at the infant dental visit, with the exception of evaluating for fluoride needs and placing fluoride varnish. The main barrier to early oral healthcare was reported to be parents not requesting dental appointments for their infants. CONCLUSIONS: There remains a need to increase the proportion of non-PDs in Ireland seeing infants by their first birthday. It is recommended that Irish undergraduate and continuing education courses incorporate clinical training regarding the infant oral health visit and emphasise fluoride needs evaluation and fluoride varnish application. Additionally, a nationwide health promotion initiative is indicated to inform parents of the importance of a dental visit by age 1 year.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices among gynecologists regarding oral health of expectant mothers and infants in Bhubaneswar City, Odisha.

OBJECTIVE: Early intervention is aimed at preventing or mitigating common pediatric oral diseases and conditions while initiating a relationship between the mother, the child, and the dental caregiver. Every expectant mother should receive oral health education and risk assessment. There are a number of reports that showed the association between oral diseases and preterm, low birth weight, and gestational diabetes. The purpose of this study is to understand the attitude and knowledge regarding prenatal as well as infant oral health care among gynecologists in the medical colleges in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study involved a survey involving gynecologists in medical colleges in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. A pretested questionnaire was provided to all the gynecologists (21) working in the medical colleges in Bhubaneswar regarding prenatal and perinatal oral health care. RESULTS: The study gave an idea that most gynecologists working in a medical college in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India, had adequate knowledge regarding oral health of expectant mothers, but lack in knowledge when it comes to imparting knowledge on infants' health care. CONCLUSION: There is an adequate knowledge among the gynecologists about oral health of expectant mothers and infants, but still, there is a need of a multidisciplinary collaboration among gynecologists, pediatricians, and pediatric dentists to prevent the dental diseases rather than treating them.

Infant Oral Health: An Emerging Dental Public Health Measure.

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.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Mothers towards Infant Oral Healthcare.

BACKGROUND: Among all the oral diseases, dental caries is the most common chronic disease affecting the children. Early childhood caries is one of the most severe forms of dental caries affecting the children less than 3 years. Though dental caries is preventable, not much importance has been given to the preventive aspect of dental caries. This is because of the lack of oral health education. Vertical colonization occurs from caregiver usually mother to the child. Since mother play an important role in a child's life, their knowledge about child's oral health will have a significant impact on the child's oral health status. A proper knowledge for the mothers regarding infant's oral health care will be beneficial in reducing the burden of dental caries in children. Hence a study was conducted to evaluate the mother's knowledge, attitude and practice towards infant oral health care. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among a convenient sample of 185 first time mothers with a child aged 9 to 24 months of age visiting Department of Pediatrics and Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry. Permission to carry out the study was obtained from the Institutional Ethical Board. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire used in this study was divided into two sections. The first section contained demographic details and the second section contained knowledge about primary teeth and practice of oral health care. All the participants fulfilling the inclusion criteria were enrolled. The purpose of the study and the questionnaire were explained to each participant. The questionnaire was completed and returned before leaving the clinic. The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22. RESULTS: Total 52.5% of the mothers responded that first tooth erupt after 6 months. A total of 86.5% of the mothers were not aware of the first dental visit. 77.8% did not agree that caries causing bacteria is transferred from mother to the child; 53% mothers did not agree that night time bottle feeding causes dental caries and 78.4% disagreed that nocturnal breastfeeding can cause dental caries in children. A total of 65.4% mothers feel dental check-up is not necessary when the first tooth erupt, and 95.7% mother did not have any information on infant oral health care. 72.4% of mothers started using toothbrush and paste after all the primary teeth erupted and only 5.9% of the mother had the knowledge about proper dispensing of toothpaste for children. CONCLUSION: Overall knowledge and attitude of mothers towards oral health care of children is poor. Health care professionals like a gynecologist, pediatrician Anganwadi workers who contact first-time mothers need to be trained to disseminate appropriate infant oral health care information. The mother needs to be educated about oral health during their antenatal check upHow to cite this article: Dhull KS, Dutta B, Devraj IM, Samir PV. Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Mothers towards Infant Oral Healthcare. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent. 2018;11(5):435-439.

Clinical efficacy of a two-year oral health programme for infants and toddlers in Singapore.

INTRODUCTION: Dental caries, which is prevalent in Singapore preschoolers, is a disease that has a major impact on children's health and places a high cost on the society and health services. Oral health programmes for young children implemented in some parts of the world have been shown to be effective in the prevention of dental caries. We aimed to examine the clinical efficacy of a two-year oral health programme for infants and toddlers in Singapore. METHODS: 90 children and their caregivers participated in the programme, and 64 children, who were 24 months older than the intervention group at the initial visit, were recruited as controls in a quasi-experimental study design. We evaluated the presence of severe early childhood caries (SECC) and d3mfs in the control group at the initial visit and in the intervention group after the completion of the two-year programme. RESULTS: Some children in the intervention (7.8%) and control (31.3%) groups (p < 0.001) had SECC (difference 23.5%, 95% confidence interval 11%-36%). A higher percentage of children in the intervention group had d3mfs = 0 and habits associated with low risk for caries. The odds of SECC in the control group were three times higher than that for the intervention group, and the effect was significant (p = 0.037) after adjustment for other significant risk factors. CONCLUSION: The preventive oral health programme in Singapore was successful in reducing SECC among infants and toddlers when targeted behaviour modifications were implemented.

Using Quality Improvement Methods to Implement an Early Childhood Oral Health Initiative: A Federally Qualified Health Center Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the use of quality improvement (QI) methods to implement an early childhood oral health program (Baby Oral Health Program-bOHP) in four federally qualified health center (FQHC) dental clinics. STUDY DESIGN: Using a mixed-methods study design, survey responses, administrative data, QI project templates, and focus group measures were collected. Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles as mini-projects to improve the implementation of bOHP were examined. Data analysis included descriptive qualitative reviews and quantitative statistics at baseline, six, and 12 months following the intervention. RESULTS: Twenty-three dental team providers in one urban and three rural clinics participated. Successful QI mini-projects included shortening time period between accepted referral and patient visits, improved documentation of caregiver interview, and efficiency of the infant oral health examination. Lack of change in provider confidence was observed, regardless of years of practice (p=0.93), years of employment (p=0.39), and dental team age (p=0.85). Qualitative reviews highlighted mixed QI results related to training and limited resources invested on follow-up of QI implementation. CONCLUSIONS: A low cost, low resource pilot QI program as part of bOHP implementation showed mixed success, highlighting the critical role of training, staff committment, and leadership support to assure sustainable oral health programs in high-risk populations.

Knowledge, attitude, and practices of oral health care in prevention of early childhood caries among parents of children in Belagavi city: A Questionnaire study.

AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the existing knowledge, attitude, and practices of "oral health care" in the prevention of early childhood caries (ECCs) among parents of children in Belagavi city. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the outpatient Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, KLE VK Institute of Dental Sciences, Belagavi, Karnataka. Institutional Ethical Clearance was obtained. The study was conducted during the month of April 2014 to October 2014 after taking prior informed consent from the 218 parents. Inclusion criteria were parents getting their children treated for dental caries and who were willing to participate. Parents who could not read and write were excluded from the study. The self-administered, close-ended questionnaire was written in English. It was then translated in local languages, i.e. Kannada and Marathi, and a pilot study was conducted on 10 parents to check for its feasibility and any changes if required were done. RESULTS: The response rate was 100% as all 218 parents completed the questionnaire. Of 218 parents, 116 were mothers and 102 were fathers. The overall mean knowledge score was 69.5%. The overall mean attitude score was 53.5%. The overall attitude toward prevention of ECC was not in accordance to knowledge. The overall mean of "good" practices and "bad" practices score was 33.5% and 18.5%, respectively. Good knowledge and attitude toward oral health do not necessarily produce good practices.

The Impact of an Infant Oral Health Program on Dental Students' Knowledge and Attitudes.

The high prevalence of early childhood caries and many general dentists' reluctance to treat young children and pregnant women demand new educational programs to foster delivery of oral health services. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of an Infant Oral Health Program (IOHP) at the University of Florida College of Dentistry on dental students' knowledge about and willingness to provide dental care for infants, children up to three years of age, and pregnant women. A total of 233 dental students in the first through fourth years and recent graduates completed a survey that assessed the educational outcomes of the IOHP; only the fourth-year students had received IOHP training. The results showed that females were more likely than males to provide counseling to caregivers about dental and physical development (p=0.024) and to offer restorative treatment to young children (p=0.021). Older students were more likely than younger students to provide restorative treatment (p=0.013). A greater percentage of IOHP-trained students (96%) reported knowing how to use the lap examination technique compared with untrained students (71%; p<0.001). IOHP-trained students were the most uncomfortable dealing with a crying child in the dental chair (p=0.0175). The graduates and fourth-year students were significantly more likely than the other cohorts to provide preventive (p=0.001) and restorative (p<0.001) care for pregnant women. The graduates were least likely to use some form of caries risk assessment (p<0.001). These findings highlight the need for earlier and greater exposure to the IOHP and the importance of promoting awareness about risk assessment and oral disease management.

Behavior Assessment in Children Following Hospital-Based General Anesthesia versus Office-Based General Anesthesia.

The purpose of this study was to determine if differences in behavior exist following dental treatment under hospital-based general anesthesia (HBGA) or office-based general anesthesia (OBGA) in the percentage of patients exhibiting positive behavior and in the mean Frankl scores at recall visits. This retrospective study examined records of a pediatric dental office over a 4 year period. Patients presenting before 48 months of age for an initial exam who were diagnosed with early childhood caries were included in the study. Following an initial exam, patients were treated under HBGA or OBGA. Patients were followed to determine their behavior at 6-, 12- and 18-month recall appointments. Fifty-four patients received treatment under HBGA and 26 were treated under OBGA. OBGA patients were significantly more likely to exhibit positive behavior at the 6- and 12-month recall visits p = 0.038 & p = 0.029). Clinicians should consider future behavior when determining general anesthesia treatment modalities in children with early childhood caries presenting to their office.

Improving oral health outcomes from pregnancy through infancy.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of current professional guidelines regarding oral health care through pregnancy and infancy stages, and to include risks associated with treatment, as well as health care providers' beliefs and attitudes surrounding treatment of these specific populations. Although dental treatment during the second trimester is ideal, there is no indication that preventive or restorative dental treatment during any trimester of pregnancy can cause harm to the mother or developing fetus. Despite these recommendations, routine dental care is often voluntarily avoided or postponed for the duration of pregnancy. Post-delivery, preventive oral care is typically postponed for a child until 3 years of age, years after the first tooth has erupted. While most health care professionals agree on the importance of good oral health in every stage of life, it is not being addressed. Whether it is based on misconceptions or lack of knowledge, health care providers are performing inadequate oral care for these patients. Recommendations to increase health care during pregnancy and infancy should include improved advocacy of the established oral health care guidelines within each professional organization. In addition, curriculum revision should occur at the university level, to ensure future health care professionals will have a strong oral health foundation. Lastly, a collaborative effort needs to occur between all health care providers to better treat the patient's overall health, not only the specifics of one professional discipline. As health care professionals we are all responsible for the complete well-being of our patients, and an interdisciplinary approach will better ensure we accomplish this task.