Points Of Light

Infant Oral Health

As a professional collective, we rarely have as great an opportunity to employ preventive measures with assured positive outcome as we do with the first dental visit by age 1. The American Dental Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, Academy of General Dentistry and too many other organizations to list all recommend the establishment of a ‘Dental Home’ by 6 months after the first tooth erupts or by one year of age.

The timing of the age 1 dental visit is the foundations upon which preventive education and dental care is built that affords the opportunity for a lifetime free from preventable oral disease. The Points of Light project and its supporting organizations urge all health professionals that interact with mothers and infants to become involved partners toward establishing early and appropriate anticipatory guidance and therapeutic interventions that result in optimal oral health for all our children.

If you are a physician interested in promoting Infant Oral Health in your practice, contact us through this website or contact your state academy to obtain promotional materials.  If you are at dentist interested in implementing an Infant Oral Health program in your practice, register on this website and check the Infant Oral Health box.