The Longitudinal Reciprocal Relationships of Tooth Brushing Behaviors Between Underserved Children and Their Caregivers.

BACKGROUND: Tooth brushing is effective in preventing early childhood caries. However, it is unclear how children's and caregiver's tooth brushing are reciprocally related. PURPOSE: The current study investigated whether the longitudinal relationships between children and caregiver tooth brushing are moderated by a caregiver-targeted child oral health intervention and caregiver depression. METHODS: Secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial that tested whether caregiver-targeted oral health text messages (OHT) outperformed child wellness text messages (CWT) on pediatric dental caries and oral health behaviors (n = 754, mean child age = 2.9 years, 56.2% Black, 68.3%

Tooth brushing is effective in preventing dental cavities in children, but we do not know if or how children and caregiver brushing frequencies are related. This is important because interventions targeting children's oral health may also have the potential to benefit their caregiver's behaviors. Our study examined whether caregiver brushing of their own teeth and caregiver brushing of their young child's teeth positively influenced each other over time. We also explored whether this relationship was less likely if caregivers experienced depressive symptoms and more likely if caregivers participated in a text message program focused on improving their child's oral health. Results showed that caregiver and child tooth brushing behaviors positively influenced each other over time, but this relationship was observed only in caregivers who received the child oral health program (as opposed to the control group) and who reported low depressive symptoms (in contrast to caregivers with high depression symptoms). Our findings suggest that while caregivers and children positively influence each other's tooth-brushing behaviors over time, additional support is essential for caregivers experiencing depression to fully realize these reciprocal benefits.

Using Storytelling to Address Oral Health Knowledge in American Indian and Alaska Native Communities.

INTRODUCTION: We conducted a qualitative analysis to evaluate the acceptability of using storytelling as a way to communicate oral health messages regarding early childhood caries (ECC) prevention in the American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) population. METHODS: A traditional story was developed and pilot tested among AIAN mothers residing in 3 tribal locations in northern California. Evaluations of the story content and acceptability followed a multistep process consisting of initial feedback from 4 key informants, a focus group of 7 AIAN mothers, and feedback from the Community Advisory Board. Upon story approval, 9 additional focus group sessions (N = 53 participants) were held with AIAN mothers following an oral telling of the story. RESULTS: Participants reported that the story was culturally appropriate and used relatable characters. Messages about oral health were considered to be valuable. Concerns arose about the oral-only delivery of the story, story content, length, story messages that conflicted with normative community values, and the intent to target audiences. Feedback by focus group participants raised some doubts about the relevance and frequency of storytelling in AIAN communities today. CONCLUSION: AIAN communities value the need for oral health messaging for community members. However, the acceptability of storytelling as a method for the messaging raises concerns, because the influence of modern technology and digital communications may weaken the acceptability of the oral tradition. Careful attention must be made to the delivery mode, content, and targeting with continual iterative feedback from community members to make these messages engaging, appropriate, relatable, and inclusive.

Absence of Fluoride Varnish-Related Adverse Events in Caries Prevention Trials in Young Children, United States.

INTRODUCTION: Fluoride varnish is an effective prevention intervention for caries in young children. Its routine use in clinical care is supported by meta-analyses and recommended by clinical guidelines, including the US Preventive Services Task Force (B rating). This report is the first prospective systematic assessment of adverse events related to fluoride varnish treatment in young children. METHODS: We determined the incidence of adverse events related to fluoride varnish treatment in 3 clinical trials on the prevention of early childhood caries, conducted under the auspices of the Early Childhood Caries Collaborating Centers, an initiative sponsored by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Each trial incorporated use of fluoride varnish in its protocol and systematically queried all children's parents or legal guardians about the occurrence of acute adverse events after each fluoride varnish treatment. RESULTS: A total of 2,424 community-dwelling, dentate children aged 0 to 5 years were enrolled and followed for up to 3 years. These children received a cumulative total of 10,249 fluoride varnish treatments. On average, each child received 4.2 fluoride varnish treatments. We found zero fluoride varnish-related adverse events. CONCLUSION: Fluoride varnish was not associated with treatment-related adverse events in young children. Our findings support its safety as an effective prevention intervention for caries in young children.

The basic research factors questionnaire for studying early childhood caries.

BACKGROUND: We describe development of the Early Childhood Caries (ECC) Basic Research Factors Questionnaire (BRFQ), a battery of measures assessing common potential predictors, mediators, and moderators of ECC. Individual-, family-, and community-level factors that are linked to oral health outcomes across at-risk populations are included. Developing standard measures of factors implicated in ECC has the potential to enhance our ability to understand mechanisms underlying successful prevention and to develop more effective interventions. METHODS: The Early Childhood Caries Collaborating Centers (EC4), funded by National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, developed the BRFQ, which was used across four randomized trials to develop and test interventions for reducing ECC in at-risk populations. Forty-five investigators from across the centers and NIDCR were involved in the development process. Eight "measures working groups" identified relevant constructs and effective measurement approaches, which were then categorized as "essential" or "optional" common data elements (CDEs) for the EC4 projects. RESULTS: Essential CDEs include 88 items, with an additional 177 measures categorized as optional CDEs. Essential CDEs fell under the following domains: oral health knowledge, oral health behavior, utilization/insurance and cost, parent/caregiver dental self-efficacy, quality of life, caregiver and family characteristics, and child characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: The BRFQ makes available a battery of measures that support efforts to understand population risk factors for ECC and to compare oral health outcomes across populations at risk. The BRFQ development process may be useful to other clinical research networks and consortia developing CDEs in other health research fields. TRIAL REGISTRATION: All the trial that used the BRFQ were registered at Clinicaltrial.gov NCT01116726 , April 29, 2010; NCT01116739 , May 3, 2010; NCT01129440 , May 21, 2010; and NCT01205971 , September 19, 2010.

Oral health among residents of publicly supported housing in Boston.

Tooth loss in adults diminishes quality of daily life, affecting eating, speaking, appearance, and social interactions. Tooth loss is linked to severe periodontitis and caries; and to risk of stroke, cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and dementia. At the national (USA) level, poverty and African-American race have been linked to lower utilization of dental services, suggesting that the 7.5 million residents of publicly supported housing may be at risk of tooth loss and poor overall oral health. We assessed whether residence in publicly supported housing in Boston was associated with four oral health-related indicators. Compared to residents of nonpublicly supported housing, after adjusting for covariates residents of both public housing developments (PHDs) and rental assistance units (RAUs) had significantly lower odds of having had a dental cleaning in the past year (PHD, OR = 0.64 (95 % CI, 0.44-0.93); RAU, OR = 0.67 (95 % CI, 0.45-0.99))-despite parity in having had a past year dental visit. Further, residents of RAUs had double the odds of having had six or more teeth removed (OR = 2.20 (95 % CI, 1.39-3.50)). Associations of race/ethnicity and housing type with dental insurance were interrelated. Unadjusted results document a deficit in oral health-related indicators among public housing residents, taken as a group, giving a clear picture of an oral health care gap and identifying a defined real-world population that could benefit from services. Existing public housing infrastructure could provide both a venue and a foundation for interventions to reduce oral health disparities on a broad scale.

Recruitment for health disparities preventive intervention trials: the early childhood caries collaborating centers.

BACKGROUND: Four trials of interventions designed to prevent early childhood caries are using community-engagement strategies to improve recruitment of low-income, racial/ethnic minority participants. The trials are being implemented by 3 centers funded by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research and known as the Early Childhood Caries Collaborating Centers (EC4): the Center for Native Oral Health Research at the University of Colorado, the Center to Address Disparities in Children's Oral Health at the University of California San Francisco, and the Center for Research to Evaluate and Eliminate Dental Disparities at Boston University. COMMUNITY CONTEXT: The community contexts for the EC4 trials include urban public housing developments, Hispanic communities near the US-Mexican border, and rural American Indian reservations. These communities have a high prevalence of early childhood caries, suggesting the need for effective, culturally acceptable interventions. METHODS: Each center's intervention(s) used community-based participatory research approaches, identified community partners, engaged the community through various means, and developed communication strategies to enhance recruitment. OUTCOME: All 3 centers have completed recruitment. Each center implemented several new strategies and approaches to enhance recruitment efforts, such as introducing new communication techniques, using media such as radio and newspapers to spread awareness about the studies, and hosting community gatherings. INTERPRETATION: Using multiple strategies that build trust in the community, are sensitive to cultural norms, and are adaptable to the community environment can enhance recruitment in underserved communities.

A service-learning framework to address accreditation standards: Self-Assessment, communication skills, health literacy, and cultural competence.

OBJECTIVES: Pre-doctoral dental programs must provide opportunities for students to become proficient in self-assessment, communication skills, health literacy, and cultural competence, essential for independent unsupervised practice. This study aimed to assess how student learning through a classroom education service-learning program addresses the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) standards 2-11 and 2-17; specifically through the examination of self-assessment, communication skills, health literacy, and cultural competence. METHODS: This 2022 retrospective mixed methods cohort study examined unstructured faculty comments on drafted lesson plans and structured evaluations of classroom education service-learning rehearsal sessions. A random sample of faculty comments from three academic years, 2018, 2019, and 2020, were deidentified and analyzed by five researchers for emerging themes using NVivo. Quantitative data from rehearsal presentations were analyzed with descriptive statistics to assess the concordance of self and faculty feedback on specific evaluation criteria. RESULTS: Six major themes from faculty lesson plan feedback emerged: knowledge, professionalism, communication, presentation skills, cultural competence, and program logistics. Concordance between faculty feedback and student self-assessment ranged from 83% to 92.4% across all evaluation criteria over the 3 years: spoke clearly and confidently at the right pace, provided accurate dental terminology and facts, used grade-appropriate language, provided clear instructions to follow, appeared enthusiastic throughout the rehearsal presentation, and designed a well thought out lesson plan that will engage children for the entire presentation. CONCLUSION: Findings support the classroom education service-learning program as a framework to provide opportunities for student self-assessment and feedback on communication skills, health literacy, and cultural competence aligned with CODA standards 2-11 and 2-17.

Estimation of Oral Disease Burden among Older Adults in LTC: A Scoping Review.

Oral health is an essential part of healthy aging and very little data exists around the disease burden for older adults in a long-term care setting. The aim of this scoping review was to estimate the disease burden of dental caries, periodontal disease, and tooth loss among older adults in Long-Term Care (LTC). This scoping review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology. A detailed strategy was used to conduct a comprehensive search of electronic databases: PubMed, Embase, and Dentistry and Oral Sciences Source (DOSS). The Rayyan AI platform was used to screen abstracts for assessment by one of five co-investigators. Results indicate that only one in three might have a functional dentition upon entry into LTC, and among those who are dentate, most might expect to develop at least one new coronal and one new root caries lesion each year. There is a need to better document the disease experiences of this group to tailor approaches to care that might reduce the avoidable suffering as a result of dental caries and periodontal disease.

The impact of functional health literacy and acculturation on the oral health status of Somali refugees living in Massachusetts.

OBJECTIVES: We assessed the impact of health literacy and acculturation on oral health status of Somali refugees in Massachusetts. METHODS: Between December 2009 and June 2011, we surveyed 439 adult Somalis who had lived in the United States 10 years or less. Assessments included oral examinations with decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) counts and measurement of spoken English and health literacy. We tested associations with generalized linear regression models. RESULTS: Participants had means of 1.4 decayed, 2.8 missing, and 1.3 filled teeth. Among participants who had been in the United States 0 to 4 years, lower health literacy scores correlated with lower DMFT (rate ratio [RR] = 0.78; P = .016). Among participants who had been in the country 5 to 10 years, lower literacy scores correlated with higher DMFT (RR = 1.37; P = .012). Literacy was not significantly associated with decayed teeth. Lower literacy scores correlated marginally with lower risk of periodontal disease (odds ratio = 0.22; P = .047). CONCLUSIONS: Worsening oral health of Somali refugees over time may be linked to less access to preventive care and less utilization of beneficial oral hygiene practices.

Inequities and oral health: A behavioural sciences perspective.

OBJECTIVES: The importance of tackling ongoing dental health inequities, observed both within and across countries, cannot be overstated. Alarmingly, health inequities in some areas are widening, resulting in an urgent need to act. The objective of this commentary is to explore oral health inequities through the lens of behavioral science and discuss adapting evidence based interventions for populations experiencing health inequities. METHOD/RESULTS: The first section of this paper aims to describe the role of health disparities and inequities within oral health, with a specific focus on behaviours. The determinants, from upstream to downstream, and the interplay between these levels of intervention are discussed. This is followed by an overview of oral health promotion interventions, again with a focus on behaviours, which could potentially improve oral health while also taking into account oral health inequities. It is essential to translate evidence-based interventions (EBIs) to populations that have the greatest burden of disease. The second section of this paper discusses the rationale for cultural adaption of EBIs, criteria to justify EBIs and considers different cultural adaptation strategies necessary for the development and testing of effective, engaging, equitable and culturally relevant interventions. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude with future directions for the development of theory-based multi-level interventions, guided by extent evidence-based interventions, and transdisciplinary approaches to science and key stakeholders such as patients, providers and payers.

Oral Health Disparities and Inequities in Older Adults.

The number of individuals 65 and older living in the United States is increasing substantially and becoming more racially and ethnically diverse. This shift will affect the demographics of the patient population seeking dental care. It will also impact the future treatment needs of older adults. In older adults, similar to the general adult population, oral health disparities continue to exist related to race, ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic level. Dental practitioners must understand these changes in order to meet the challenges of providing oral health care to the increasing numbers of diverse, medically compromised, and cognitively impaired older adults.

Theoretical and methodological approaches in designing, developing, and delivering interventions for oral health behaviour change.

Oral health behaviour change interventions are gaining momentum on a global scale. After lagging behind other disciplines, oral health behaviour change is becoming an area of fast and important development. Theories used in medicine and healthcare more generally are now being applied to oral health behaviour change with varying results. Despite the importance of using theories when designing and developing interventions, the variety and variation of theories available to choose from create a series of dilemmas and potential hazards. Some theories, like the COM-B (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behaviour) model, and frameworks, like the Behaviour Change Wheel might represent areas of opportunity for oral health behaviour change interventions with careful consideration vital. Different methodological approaches to intervention development are actively utilized in oral health with a wide host of potential opportunities. The issue of co-designing and co-developing interventions with intended users and stakeholders from the start is an important component for successful and effective interventions, one that oral health behaviour change interventions need to consistently implement. Oral health behaviour change interventions are utilizing technology-based approaches as a major vehicle for intervention delivery and, innovative solutions are implemented across a wide host of oral health behaviour change interventions. With multiple options for designing, developing, and delivering interventions, careful selection of appropriate, user-inclusive, and adaptable approaches is essential. With a lot of available information and evidence from other disciplines, oral health behaviour change interventions need to reflect on lessons learned in other fields whilst also maximizing the potential of the wide variety of theories, frameworks, methodologies, and techniques available at present.

The differential predictive utility of two caregiver-targeted self-efficacy measures to promote oral health of underserved children.

OBJECTIVE: Oral health self-efficacy is a modifiable determinant of early childhood caries, which is one of the most prevalent childhood diseases. Yet, two common measures of self-efficacy (i.e., context-specific and behavior-specific) lack validation and clarity in the prediction of children's oral health behaviors. This study examined the psychometric properties of two caregiver oral health self-efficacy measures and investigated the predictive ability and age-varying effects of caregiver oral health self-efficacy on child oral health behaviors. METHOD: In this secondary data analysis of caregiver-child dyads (n = 754, Mchild age = 2.4, 56.2% Black or African American, 68.3% below poverty level), caregivers reported their oral health self-efficacy and their child's tooth brushing frequency, diet, and sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption at baseline and 4, 12, and 24 months. Psychometrics were examined with confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) and the predictive ability and age-varying effects of caregiver self-efficacy on child oral health behaviors were examined with time-varying effect models (TVEMs). RESULTS: The context- and behavior-specific oral health self-efficacy CFA models indicated mixed model fit. In the predictive TVEM models, greater behavior-specific, but not context-, oral health self-efficacy predicted greater child tooth brushing across all ages. Greater context-specific oral health self-efficacy predicted healthier child diet throughout childhood, but greater behavior-specific self-efficacy only predicted healthier child diet in older children. Greater behavior-specific self-efficacy predicted lower SSB consumption throughout childhood while greater context-specific self-efficacy only predicted lower SSB consumption in younger children. CONCLUSIONS: Both caregiver oral health self-efficacy measures were psychometrically comparable and differentially predicted oral health behaviors across varying childhood ages. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Promoting Children's Health Equity With Medical-Dental Integration.

BACKGROUND: Successful medical-dental integration is key to achieving children's health equity. In 2015, a community health center (CHC) in Boston, Massachusetts, implemented a model of interdisciplinary care in a nationwide pilot. Based on the Oral Health Delivery Framework, pediatricians were trained to assess dental caries risk and apply fluoride varnish. They were trained to offer education materials to patients, incorporate oral health assessment in pediatric practice, and document preventive dental care in the electronic health record. This study assessed the level of medical-dental integration achieved by the pilot and maintained over 2 years after program implementation. METHODS: Deidentified data were provided by the CHC on all well-child visits during 2014 to 2018 for children 72 months or younger, including appointment dates, age, ethnicity, race, insurance status, and outcomes of interest (ie, whether a dental assessment was performed and whether fluoride varnish was applied). Outcomes were stratified by visit year to allow pilot (2015-2016) outcomes to be compared to pre-pilot (2014) and post-pilot (2017-2018) outcomes. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data. RESULTS: Pediatricians performed fluoride varnish applications and dental assessments in 25% and 0% of visits, respectively, at baseline; in 50.2% and 49.4% of visits, respectively, at the pilot's end; and in 56.7% and 57.3% of visits, respectively, 2 years post-pilot. CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of well-child visits during which pediatricians integrated oral health preventive measures increased by roughly 25% to 50% from baseline (2014) to the end of the pilot (2016) and by at least 5% from 2016 to 2018. The success of this medical-dental integration pilot underscores the need for broader implementation of interprofessional education and practice to promote children's health equity.

Oral Health Disparities and Inequities in Older Adults.

The number of individuals 65 and older living in the United States is increasing substantially and becoming more racially and ethnically diverse. This shift will affect the demographics of the patient population seeking dental care. It will also impact the future treatment needs of older adults. In older adults, similar to the general adult population, oral health disparities continue to exist related to race, ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic level. Dental practitioners must understand these changes in order to meet the challenges of providing oral health care to the increasing numbers of diverse, medically compromised, and cognitively impaired older adults.

Preschool oral health-related quality of life: A practical guide to measurement tools.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this paper is to describe currently available measurement tools for assessing oral health-related quality of life (OHQoL) in preschool aged children to aid clinicians and researchers in selection of the appropriate tool for their needs. METHODS: The authors describe and compare eight OHRQoL tools that were created or adapted for use among preschoolers, including the Child Oral Health Impact Profile-Preschool, Dental Discomfort Questionnaire, Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale, Michigan-OHRQoL, Parental-Caregiver Perceptions Questionnaire and Family Impact Scale, Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory-Oral Health Scale, Pediatric Oral Health-Related Quality of Life, and Scale of Oral Health Outcomes for 5-year-old children. RESULTS: The tools vary by their intended target population, oral condition of interest, intended setting for use, and method of administration. They also vary in the number of items or questions included and the domains covered by those items. Unique features and strengths of each are highlighted. CONCLUSION: A variety of tools exist for measuring OHQoL in preschoolers, this article provides an overview that can facilitate selection for specific intended uses.

COVID-19 Impact on Community-Based Participatory Randomized Controlled Trials-Lessons From the Oral Health Disparities in Children Consortium.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on nearly every sector of science and industry worldwide, including a significant disruption to clinical trials and dentistry. From the beginning of the pandemic, dental care was considered high risk for viral transmission due to frequent aerosol-generating procedures. This resulted in special challenges for dental providers, oral health care workers, patients, and oral health researchers. By describing the effect that the COVID-19 pandemic had on four community-based randomized clinical trials in the Oral Health Disparities in Children (OHDC) Consortium, we highlight major challenges so researchers can anticipate impacts from any future disruptions.

Oral microbiota of children in a school-based dental clinic.

OBJECTIVES: Dental caries disproportionately affects disadvantaged subjects. This study hypothesized that there were greater caries extent and higher levels of caries-associated and anaerobic subgingival bacterial species in oral samples of Hispanic and immigrant children compared with non-Hispanic and US born children. METHODS: Children from a school-based dental clinic serving a community with a large Hispanic component were examined, and the extent of caries was recorded. Microbial samples were taken from teeth and the tongues of children. Samples were analyzed using DNA probes to 18 oral bacterial species. RESULTS: Seventy five children were examined. Extent of caries increased with child age in immigrant, but not in US born or Hispanic children. There were no differences in the microbiota based on ethnicity or whether the child was born in US or not. There was a higher species detection frequency from teeth than tongue samples. Levels of Streptococcus mutans and other Streptococcus spp increased with caries extent. Prevotella intermedia, Tannerella forsythia and Selenomonas spp were detected at low levels in these children. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that, while there was a high rate of dental caries in disadvantaged school children, there were no differences in the caries-associated microbiota, including S. mutans, based on ethnicity or immigration status. Furthermore, while anaerobic subgingival, periodontal pathogens were also detected in children, there was no difference in species detection based on ethnicity or immigration status. Increased levels of streptococci, including S. mutans, however, were detected with high caries levels. This suggested that while it is beneficial to target preventive and treatment programs to disadvantaged populations, there is likely no additional benefit to focus on subgroups within a population already at high risk for dental disease.

Pediatric clinicians can help reduce rates of early childhood caries: effects of a practice based intervention.

OBJECTIVE: Early childhood caries (ECC) is a serious and preventable disease which pediatric clinicians can help address by counseling to reduce risk. RESEARCH DESIGN: We implemented a multifaceted practice-based intervention in a pediatric outpatient clinic treating children vulnerable to ECC (N = 635), comparing results to those from a similar nearby clinic providing usual care (N = 452). INTERVENTION: We provided communication skills training using the approach of patient centered counseling, edited the electronic medical record to prompt counseling, and provided parents/caregivers with an educational brochure. OUTCOME MEASURES: We assessed changes in provider knowledge about ECC after the intervention, and examined providers' counseling practices and incidence of ECC over time by site, controlling for baseline ECC, patient sociodemographics and parents'/caregivers' practice of risk factors (diet, oral hygiene, tooth-monitoring), among 1045 children with complete data. RESULTS: Provider knowledge about ECC increased after the intervention training (percentage correct answers improved from 66% to 79%). Providers at the intervention site used more counseling strategies, which persisted after adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics. Children at the intervention site had a 77% reduction in risk for developing ECC at follow up, after controlling for age and race/ethnicity, sociodemographics and ECC risk factors; P

Prevalence of early childhood caries among very young urban Boston children compared with US children.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to compare prevalence of early childhood caries (ECC) in 1- to 3-year-old children seeing primary-care pediatricians at two urban medical centers in Boston to the prevalence of ECC in similarly aged US children surveyed as part of the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) and to assess risk factors for ECC among this cohort of children compared with risk factors among similarly aged US children. METHODS: Characteristics of 787 1- to 3-year-old children from two urban Boston medical centers were compared with those of 3,644 similarly aged US children surveyed as part of NHANES III. Demographic and social characteristics and ECC prevalence by putative risk factors were compared. A multiple logistic regression model was fit to assess putative risk factors and difference between groups simultaneously. RESULTS: Race, age, previous dental visit, parents' education, and household income were significantly associated with ECC prevalence. Parents' place of birth was a significant effect modifier with lower ECC among Boston children of immigrants than among US children of immigrants. CONCLUSIONS: Lower ECC prevalence among urban Boston children of immigrant parents compared with US children of immigrant parents may reflect changing immigrant composition in the United States since NHANES III or a different immigrant composition in the Boston area compared with the United States. This finding reinforces the need for further research of immigrants in order to understand cultural practices that may affect oral health. Finally, low ECC prevalence among very young children reinforces the importance of early intervention in reducing ECC.