Pncrrrc HEnlrn Drnloc Vol 10 No. 1 . 2003 ORrcrrunl Pnpens
infant be examined soon after the eruption of the first primary tooth.33 This examination should include the soft tissues of oral cavity and the teeth to defects in enamel or early carious lesions. At this time the dentist can teach the parents proper maintenance of oral and dental health.
S u c c e s s h a d b e e n r e p o r t e d in e d u c a t i n g p a r e n t s f o r preventative dental treatment for children younger than four years of age.3a A protocol for preventative procedures b e g i n n i n g e a r l y i n i n f a n c y s h o u l d in c l u d e th e u s e o f fluoride and instruction in proper home dental care.3536
G o n c l u s i o n
From this study it is concluded that parents are in need of advice on appropriate feeding practices and oral hygiene habits of infants and young children. The caries pattern in this study shows that as the child grows older and feeding
Acknowledgement
S i n c e r e a p p r e c i a t i o n t o t h e D i v i s i o n a l M e d i c a l O f f i c e r Central / Eastern, for the approval to conduct this study.
A l s o t o t h e s t a f f n u r s e s , h e a l t h s i s t e r s , p a r e n t s a n d children of Navua, Nausori and Suva Health Centers who were very supportive during the study.
Reference
1. Marthaler TM, O'Mullane D, Vbric V. The prevalence of dental caries in Europe, 1990-95. Caries Res 1996 30:237-255.
2 . B u r t B A . T r e n d s i n c a r i e s p r e v a l e n c e in N o r t h e r n A m e r i c a n c h i l d r e n . In t D e n t J . 1 9 9 4 4 4 : 4 0 3 - 4 1 3 .
Activity Responsibility N a t i o n a l L e v e l Target Population
Appropriate advise on feeding for infants,
y o u n g c h i l d r e n
Dental health record chart
"llr ''lt
. t,",""111''iNi*,1i Health education to be
introduced to parents at different levels of c h i l d ' s d e v e l o p m e n t
Antenatal, postnatal c l i n i c s k i n d e r g a r t e n s
v i l l a g e m e e t i n g s
P o s t n a t a l c l i n i c s
The goal of primary prevention is to stop t h e o n s e t o f d i s e a s e o r
to interfere with its p r o g r e s s i o n b e f o r e t r e a t m e n t b e c o m e s
n e c e s s a r y
Active approaches to p r e s c h o o l c h i l d r e n ,
p r e g n a n t w o m e n , n u r s i n g m o t h e r s in n a t i o n a l p l a n s
Training nurses to carry o u t o r a l e x a m i n a t i o n s . Also as part of routine g e n e r a l c h e c k u p s a n d i n
i m m u n i z a t i o n p r o g r a m s
With early professional intervention, it may be possible to decrease or
e v e n e l i m i n a t e o r a l d i s e a s e
Mothers
N u r s e s D e n t a l p e r s o n n e l
Parents
pattern change, there is an increase in the caries rate.
The practice of oral hygiene however increased with age.
A d v i c e is r e q u i r e d o n a v o i d a n c e o f b o t t l e - f e e d i n g a n d i m p o r t a n c e o f b r e a s t - f e e d i n g . A l s o p a r e n t s n e e d t o b e e d u c a t e d o n a v o i d a n c e o f s u g a r e s p e c i a l l y i n b o t t l e fe d children. Parents should be made aware of the harmful effects of cariogenic feeding patterns. They should be advised on healthy feeding practices and good oral hygiene h a b i t s . T h e r e s h o u l d b e m o r e e m p h a s i s o n o r a l h e a l t h a n d t h i s s h o u l d b e i n t e g r a t e d i n t o g e n e r a l h e a l t h . With recognition that parents play an important role in caries prevention for their children, the national oral health p l a n s h o u l d b e a i m e d t o r a i s e a w a r e n e s s a n d p r o v i d e k n o w l e d g e o f d e n t a l h e a l t h c a r e p a r t i c u l a r l y a m o n g m o t h e r s . A c t i v e a p p r o a c h e s t o p r e - s c h o o l c h i l d r e n , p r e g n a n t ' w o m e n a n d n u r s i n g m o t h e r s n e e d s t o b e e m p h a s i z e d i n t h e o r a l h e a l t h p l a n .
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Oral Epidemiol. 1994; 22:311-314.Olojuba OO, Lennon MA. Dental caries experience in 5 and 12 year-old school children in Ondo State, Nigeria in 1997 and 1983. Comm Dent Health 1987'.4:129-135.
Seow WK. Biological mechanisms of ECC. Comm Dent O r a l E p i 2 6 . (1 9 9 8 ) 1 : 8 - 2 7
Acs G, Shulman R, Ng MW, Chussid S. The Effects of dental rehabilitation on the body weight of children with early childhood caries. Pediatr Dent 1999 21 , (2):
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