The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), the recognized leader in children’s dental health, is pleased to announce the launch of the Dental Home Resource Center at www.aapd.org.

Establishing a "Dental Home" means that your child's oral health care is delivered in a comprehensive, continuously accessible, coordinated and family-centered way by a licensed dentist. The concept of the Dental Home reflects the AAPD's clinical guidelines and best principles for the proper delivery of oral health care to all children, with a concentration on infant/age one patients. The Dental Home enhances the dental professional’s ability to assist children and their parents in the quest for optimum oral health care, beginning with the age one dental visit for successful preventive care and treatment as part of an overall oral health care foundation. Additionally, the establishment of the Dental Home will include referral to other dental specialists when the pediatric or general dentist cannot provide the needed care.

“By establishing a Dental Home and taking preventive steps recommended by the pediatric dentist, parents can avoid their children contracting early childhood caries -- which is extensive devastating tooth decay that results in pain, failure to thrive, and, in many cases, extensive and costly restorative work” said Dr. John Rutkauskas, executive director of the AAPD.

The American Dental Association (ADA) recently joined other dental and health organizations, most notably the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), in supporting this pivotal oral health care initiative to help ongoing public awareness of the importance of infant/age one oral health care and will continue to collaborate with the AAPD in promoting the overall health and well-being of young patients.

“It is gratifying to know that we have the support of the dental and health care community in our ongoing efforts to ensure quality oral health care of all our children” said Dr. H. Pitts Hinson, AAPD president and pediatric dentist with 26 years of clinical practice experience. He continued, “The age one dental visit represents a key moment in the development of lifelong habits for dental health and we’re proud that the AAPD can offer parents and caregivers resources that assist them in making the best informed choices—it’s something to be proud of.”

Source: The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD)
www.aapd.org