American Dental Association Foundation Awards grant to educate pediatricians in Oral Health care

Access, March, 2008

To prepare pediatricians to assess the oral health of children, the American Dental Association Foundation (ADAF) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) have undertaken a new collaboration.

ADAF's "Working Together for Oral Health" grant will provide up to $100,000 annually for three years (a total of up to $300,000) to conduct annual "train-the-trainer" oral health summits. Pediatricians will learn to

* conduct oral health risk assessments (including oral screening exams)

* teach families about oral health and prevention and

* refer children to a dental home.

Over the course of three years, all 66 AAP chapters will have the opportunity to send representatives to the summits, who will return home to lead training in their home states. The grant will also fund an oral health preceptorship program, which provides pediatricians in underserved areas with the support to promote oral health for the most vulnerable children. Ten awards will be given per year.

Unfortunately, many children in the 0-3 age group never see a dentist, especially economically disadvantaged children and those who live in areas without ready access to a dentist. Because pediatricians see children early and frequently, they can play a role in identifying high-risk children. AAP has recognized the rise of oral disease in young children and oral health is a key part of its strategic plan.

"We're grateful to the ADA Foundation for recognizing the importance of the role pediatricians can play in maintaining the oral health of young children," said Renee Jenkins, MD, FAAP, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics. "By arming pediatricians with the tools they need to assess oral health risk, we can begin to reduce the number of children who need but don't receive dental care and build a solid foundation for their oral health."

"The ADA Foundation is excited about this grant's potential to broaden the reach of oral health messages to parents. Our alliance with the American Academy of Pediatrics seeks to facilitate pediatrician and dentist collaboration at the national, state and local levels," said Arthur Dugoni, DDS, MS, president of the ADA Foundation.