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. 2011 Jun;16(6):351-64.
doi: 10.1093/pch/16.6.351.

Early childhood caries in Indigenous communities: A joint statement with the American Academy of Pediatrics

[Article in English, French]
Jd Irvine  1 , S Holve, D Krol, R Schroth
Affiliations

Early childhood caries in Indigenous communities: A joint statement with the American Academy of Pediatrics

[Article in English, French]
Jd Irvine et al. Paediatr Child Health. 2011 Jun.

Abstract
in English, French

The oral health of Indigenous children of Canada (First Nations, Inuit and Métis) and the United States (American Indian and Alaska Native) is a major child health issue. This is exemplified by the high prevalence of early childhood caries (ECC) with resulting adverse health effects, as well as high rates and costs of restorative and surgical treatments under general anesthesia. ECC is an infectious disease that is influenced by multiple factors, including socioeconomic determinants, and requires a combination of approaches for improvement. The present statement includes recommendations for oral health preventive and clinical care for young infants and pregnant women by primary health care providers, community-based health promotion initiatives, oral health workforce and access issues, and advocacy for community water fluoridation and fluoride varnish program access. Further community-based research on the epidemiology, prevention, management and microbiology of ECC in Indigenous communities would be beneficial.

La santé buccodentaire des enfants autochtones du Canada (Premières nations, Inuits et Métis) et des États-Unis (autochtones américains et de l’Alaska) est un problème de santé important chez les enfants. La forte prévalence de caries de la petite enfance (CPE) ayant des effets indésirables sur la santé ainsi que les taux et les coûts élevés des traitements restaurateurs et chirurgicaux sous anesthésie générale le démontrent bien. La CPE est une maladie infectieuse qui est influencée par de multiples facteurs, y compris les déterminants socioéconomiques, et qui exige une association de démarches d’amélioration. Le présent document de principes contient des recommandations sur les soins de santé buccodentaires préventifs et cliniques aux jeunes nourrissons et aux femmes enceintes par des dispensateurs de soins primaires, sur les initiatives de promotion de la santé communautaire, sur la main-d’œuvre en santé buccodentaire et sur la défense d’intérêts pour la fluoration communautaire de l’eau et l’accès aux programmes de vernis fluoré. Il serait bénéfique de mener d’autres recherches communautaires sur l’épidémiologie, la prévention, la prise en charge et la microbiologie de la CPE dans les communautés autochtones.

Keywords: American Indians; Dental caries; Early childhood caries; First Nations; Indigenous; Oral health.

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References

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