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1.1 Putting Prevention in Context
For
prevention to be effective, oral health professionals (dentists and
dental hygienists) need to keep the following points in mind:
- A child should visit a dentist and establish a dental home by
age 1, as stated in policies of the American Dental Association,
the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and the American
Academy of Pediatrics.
- Prevention
must fit into a child's
and family's daily routine. Unrealistic expectations for
prevention, particularly in the absence of disease, may be counterproductive.
- Parents play a critical role in prevention
of oral disease in children. The attitude of the parent (or main caregiver)
toward oral health is a good indicator of a child's risk for dental caries.
- Eating behaviors are established during
early childhood and are difficult to change.
- Fluoride plays a major role in the prevention
of dental caries, even among young children.
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