PENNSYLVANIA ORAL HEALTH COLLECTIVE IMPACT INITIATIVE PA Chapter American Academy of Pediatrics An Initiative supported by the Pennsylvania Head Start Association
Your Hosts Lisa Schildhorn, MS Executive Director PA Coalition for Oral Health www.paoralhealth.org Amy Requa, MSN, CRNP State Oral Health Coordinator PA Head Start Association www.paheadstart.org Bonnie Magliochetti, BS, RDH, RN Program Director Healthy Teeth Healthy Children PA Chapter American Academy of Pediatrics www.healthyteethhealthychildren.org
Learning Objectives By the completion of this webinar participants will be able to: 1. Describe the importance of oral health to overall health and well-being 2. Identify preventive practices and programs that will benefit children s oral health in their communities
44% of US five year olds have had tooth decay Children with decayed baby teeth are 3X more likely to develop cavities in their adult teeth In 2011 an estimated 49,959 children visited a hospital ER for preventable problems
Tooth decay The most common chronic childhood disease 5X More common than asthma Children miss more than 51 million hours of school each year from dental related illnesses Pain and suffering due to untreated dental disease can lead to problems speaking, eating and learning
Baby Teeth are important to a child s overall health Eating- Nutrition Digesting Food Speaking Holding space for permanent teeth When is the last baby tooth lost? Age 12-13 years
What Causes Dental Decay? Decay is a multi-step process that results in destruction of the tooth structure. Oral bacteria (mutans streptococci) metabolize the sugars from dietary carbohydrates into acid. The acid demineralizes the tooth enamel. If the cycle of acid production and demineralization continues, the enamel will become weakened and break down into a cavity.
The Effect of Sugar Frequency Bacteria metabolize sugar into acid which destroys enamel. Frequency of sugar ingestion is more important than quantity. Saliva buffers the acid produced by the bacteria.
Early Childhood Caries Multi-factorial Infectious Fueled by fermentable carbohydrates (sugar) Chronic, progressive Six Months later without treatment PHOTO SOURCE: Smiles for Life Curriculum
Our Challenge
Pennsylvania Initiatives Evidence Based Preventive Programs Cavity Free Kids Age One Connect the Dots Smiles for Life EPIC Educating Physicians in the Community
Cavity Free Kids: Oral Health Education for Prenatal Preschoolers and Their Families
Prevention is Possible Education For the Entire Family Professional Care Life-Long Health Habits = Healthier Children
Working Together COMMUNITY FAMILIES EARLY LEARNING 15
Audiences Reached with Cavity Free Kids Head Start & Early Head Start Programs Early Learning Programs, e.g. Pre-K, Child Care, Preschools Children & Families enrolled in Early Learning Programs Maternal and Infant Early Childhood Home Visitors (MIECHV grantees, e.g. Nurse Family Partnership) Dental Providers Public Health Educators Managed Care Organizations (MCOs)
PA Age One Connect the Dots Between Children s Medical and Dental Care
Who Supports the Age 1 Recommendation? Dental Schools, Dental Hygiene Schools AAFP American Academy of Family Physicians ADA American Dental Association Age 1 ADHA American Dental Hygiene Association AAPD American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry AAP American Academy of Pediatrics 18
ecels@paaap.org 800-243-2357 www.ecels-healthychildcarepa.org Search: oral health and find the ECELS Oral Health Self-Learning Module and over 40 resource entries.
Oral Health In Your Office
Educating Medical Providers to promote early oral health prevention Children see medical providers 10X before the age of 3 An Opportunity Medical providers can screen for dental decay, provide preventive treatments and oral health messages during the child s well visits
5 Key Oral Health Messages 1. Healthy teeth are important for overall health. 2. Brush your child s teeth with a smear of fluoride toothpaste twice a day, everyday. 3. Visit the dentist by your child s first birthday or when the first tooth erupts. 4. Limit juice, foods, and drinks with sugar, to once a day with a meal. 5. Drink only water in-between meals.
Access to Dental Care Barriers Poor oral health literacy among families Lack of transportation Parents unable to take off from work Limited # dental providers in rural areas Limited # providers who feel comfortable to see very young children Even fewer # Medical Assistance providers Language barriers Fear of the dentist
Access to Care Innovative Solutions
Partnership between Head Start and the Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) Our Goal A Collaborative Care Coordination System Building trust Moving towards signing Information Sharing Agreements with each MCO MCO-HS Liaisons Assist in accessing services (identify appropriate providers, make appointments, arrange transportation) Look at the gaps - identify the barriers for individual children-solve solutions together
HRSA Oral Health Workforce Grant Funding for oral health Revise state oral health plan Access to Care Collaborative Partners
A Network Mindset A Network Mindset
Collaborating to improve children s oral health in Pennsylvania Out of the Box Networks Primary Care Providers Prenatal Providers Dental providers Early Childhood Educators Families Policy Change
Contact us Lisa Schildhorn paoralhealth@gmail.com 610-247-3360 Oral health educational resources on the PCOH website : www.paoralhealth.org Amy Requa amy.cpnp@gmail.com 484-463-8910 Cavity Free Kids Age One Connect the Dots Head Start/ MCO Liaison Project Bonnie Magliochetti hthc@paaap.org 484-446-3059 The EPIC program: Educating Physicians in their Communities Medical/Dental Collaborationinterprofessional education
Questions? Comments? Thank you for your time and interest in children s oral health!