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Targeting of the year one dental visit for United States children
S M Hashim Nainar1, L H Straffon
1Department of Cardiology, Restorative Sciences and Endodontics, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, USA. nainar@umich.edu
Insights
The first dental visit by age one is recommended for all low-income children. For middle-to-high income infants, it
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Public Health
Background:
- Establishing early dental care habits is crucial for children's oral health.
- Socioeconomic status significantly impacts access to and utilization of dental services.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate current evidence on the optimal timing for the first dental visit in US children.
- To provide guidance on first dental visit recommendations based on socioeconomic factors.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of existing literature.
- Analysis of studies focusing on the timing of initial pediatric dental appointments.
Main Results:
- A "Year One" dental visit is strongly indicated for all children from low socioeconomic backgrounds.
- For infants from middle-to-high socioeconomic status, the first visit is considered elective, barring specific high-risk groups for dental caries.
Conclusions:
- The timing of the first dental visit should be tailored to socioeconomic status and individual caries risk.
- Public health initiatives may need to prioritize early dental access for underserved populations.
Abstract:
The aim of this review was to evaluate the evidence with regard to the timing of the first dental visit for children in the United States. It was concluded that the Year One dental visit should be performed for all children of low socioeconomic status. However, it should be regarded as an elective procedure for infants of middle-to-high socioeconomic status, except for certain selected high dental caries risk subgroups.
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