Conference Abstract Compendium Examples from the ... - CityMatCH

2009 CityMatCH Urban MCH Leadership ConferenceImproving perinatal-infant oral healthPRIMARY CONTACT:Jessie K Buerlein, MSWProject ManagerChildren's Dental Health Project2001 L Street NWSuite 400Washington , DC, 20036Phone: (202) 833-8288 Ext. 208Fax: (202) 331-1432Email: jbuerlein@cdhp.orgWebsite: www.cdhp.orgCATEGORYChild growth, development, preventive careOther: Perinatal health careFOCUSProgram Policy FocusISSUEOral health is a key component of overall health and wellbeing for women across the lifespan, and amother’s oral health status is also important because of its relationship to the health of her child. Dentaltreatment is safe during pregnancy; however many women do not access care throughout the perinatalperiod. There is a need for greater educational efforts to increase awareness among women of theimportance and safety of dental treatment during pregnancy, as well as among providers who treat or referwomen during the perinatal period.SETTINGThis Project is a five-year national initiative that targets American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry(AAPD) membership, prenatal and dental providers, maternal and child health professionals,policymakers, pregnant women and parents, and the general public, seeking to improve awareness ofseveral key audiences simultaneously and to improve access to oral health care for pregnant women andinfants.PROJECTIntervention components include:• Educating prenatal and oral health providers on the safety and importance of oral health care duringpregnancy, and encouraging referrals to care through promotion and dissemination of the New York StateOral Health Care During Pregnancy and Early Childhood Practice Guidelines.• Capacity-building to effectively address perinatal oral health within AAPD leadership and membership,and facilitating educational opportunities for AAPD membership and other dental professionals in treatingpregnant women and young children.• Promoting the preventable and infectious nature of dental caries to MCH professionals and the public toincrease their knowledge and actions in preventing dental disease, and to encourage women to access care77