Adolescent Oral Health, An Issue of Dental Clinics of North America

Comprehensive issue on adolescent oral health which covers dental needs assessment and access to care; psychosocial behavior patterns; prevention strategies for dental caries; prevention strategies for periodontal diseases and soft tissue lesions; developmental occlusion, orthodontic interventions, and orthognathic surgery; restorative, esthetic and replacement dentistry; dental trauma dental management for adolescent athletes; and common medications for adolescent dental patients.

More children born today will survive to adulthood than at any time in history. It is now time to emphasize health and development in middle childhood and adolescence--developmental phases that are critical to health in adulthood and the next generation. Child and Adolescent Health and Development explores the benefits that accrue from sustained and targeted interventions across the first two decades of life. The volume outlines the investment case for effective, costed, and scalable interventions for low-resource settings, emphasizing the cross-sectoral role of education. This evidence base can guide policy makers in prioritizing actions to promote survival, health, cognition, and physical growth throughout childhood and adolescence.

With collaboration of Dr. Bonita Stanton, Drs. Coppes and Fisher-Owens have created a current issue that looks at oral health in children, with a much needed update in the literature for pediatricians. Top experts have contributed clinical reviews on the following topics: Oral Health and Development; Infant Oral Health and the Influence of Habits; Prevention of tooth decay; Fluoride; Caries; Disparities in Children’s Oral Health (including Oral Health of Native Children); Children with Special Health Care Needs; Orthodontics; Oral Manifestations of Systemic Disease (specific to pediatrics and life course); Soft Tissue; Trauma; The Role of Primary Care Physicians (pediatricians and others) in Prevention Oral Disease; and Oral Health Care/Policies. Pediatricians will come away with the current clinical recommendations they need to improve oral health in children.

This issue of Dental Clinics of North America focuses on Evidence-Based Dentistry, and is edited by Dr. Robert J. Weyant. Articles will include: The Evidence-Based Dental Office; Implementation of Evidence-Based Dentistry and Changing Behavior: What Dentists Need to Know; Evidence-Based Dentistry Update for Pediatric Dentistry; Evidence-Based Dentistry Update on Opioid Appropriate Use and Risks; Evidence-Based Dentistry Update on Silver Diamine Fluoride; Evidence-Based Update on Diagnosis and Management of Gingivitis and Periodontitis; How Evidence-Based Dentistry Has Shaped the Practice of Oral Medicine; Teaching Evidence-Based Dentistry: Dental Curriculum; Evidence-Based Dentistry for Caries Risk Assessment and Disease Management; Implementing Evidence-Based Dentistry Guidelines; Evidence-Based Dentistry and Dental Health Policy; and more!

This issue of Dental Clinics of North America focuses on Evidence-based Pediatric Dentistry, and is edited by Dr. Donald Chi. Articles will include: Prenatal maternal factors, intergenerational transmission of disease, and child oral health outcomes; Evidence-based Medicaid policies and research use; Social determinants of children’s oral health; Pediatric behavioral oral health interventions; Pediatric social oral health interventions; Pediatric workforce issues; Pediatric-focused interprofessional interventions; Acculturation and pediatric minority oral health interventions; Interventions focusing on children with special health care needs; Genetics and pediatric dental caries; Oral health interventions during pregnancy; Topical fluoride hesitancy, and more!

Though it is highly preventable, tooth decay is a common chronic disease both in the United States and worldwide. Evidence shows that decay and other oral diseases may be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. However, individuals and many health care professionals remain unaware of the risk factors and preventive approaches for many oral diseases. They do not fully appreciate how oral health affects overall health and well-being. In Advancing Oral Health in America, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) highlights the vital role that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) can play in improving oral health and oral health care in the United States. The IOM recommends that HHS design an oral health initiative which has clearly articulated goals, is coordinated effectively, adequately funded and has high-level accountability. In addition, the IOM stresses three key areas needed for successfully maintaining oral health as a priority issue: strong leadership, sustained interest, and the involvement of multiple stakeholders from both the public and private sectors. Advancing Oral Health in America provides practical recommendations that the Department of Health and Human Services can use to improve oral health care in America. The report will serve as a vital resource for federal health agencies, health care professionals, policy makers, researchers, and public and private health organizations.