Influence of Maternal Prenatal Vitamin D Status on Infant Oral Health

preventive program would need to begin during the prenatal period and continue
throughout early childhood anticipating key development milestones. Other pressing
health issues may overshadow the importance <strong>of</strong> infant and preschool oral health. For
instance, the fear <strong>of</strong> a potential H1N1 pandemic may leave ECC low on the list <strong>of</strong>
priorities. In addition, lobby groups have some influence, which can both have positive
and negative consequences on the research evidence. Past demands by pediatric dentists
for more operating room time has given the problem <strong>of</strong> ECC some public exposure in the
media. However, these treatment solutions to dealing with the problem <strong>of</strong>ten overshadow
the real need for effective preventive solutions. A balanced approach makes sense and
appears to be the current government strategy to dealing with ECC. 97,98
It was the burden <strong>of</strong> ECC and the growing wait lists for dental surgery under GA
in Manitoba that prompted the development <strong>of</strong> the Manitoba Collaborative Project for the
Prevention <strong>of</strong> Early Childhood Tooth Decay. 99 This project, now more commonly known
as Healthy Smile Happy Child (HSHC) formed in 1999, adopting a population health and
community-development approach to foster community solutions to ECC prevention. 23,99
It is a true example <strong>of</strong> a community-based knowledge transfer strategy. Emphasis has
been placed on building capacity within existing communities and local services to
ensure oral health promotion is sustained. HSHC methods, similar to the PRECEDE-
PROCEED model, have been to engage the community as a key participant in
prevention. 100
HSHC wanted communities to understand the importance <strong>of</strong> early
childhood oral health, proceed to obtain skills and capacity needed to act, and ultimately
develop ECC prevention strategies. 101-104
The project has developed contacts with
community members and identified natural community leaders and service providers who
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