Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2026

Publication Title

Journal of Dental Hygiene

Volume

100

Issue

1

Pages

22-24

Abstract

[Introduction] Dental hygienists promote oral health and provide preventive services to patients throughout their lifespan. The Commission on Dental Accreditation, Dental Hygiene Standards emphasize that graduates must be competent in providing dental hygiene care for all patient populations, including children.¹ In fact, promoting pediatric oral health begins prior to birth with the expectant mother and/or caregiver. Oral health care to include education is essential during pregnancy; specifically, around the prevention and treatment of dental caries for the mother and the unborn child.² In the U.S., from 2013-2016, roughly 30% of women aged 20-44 years had untreated dental caries.³ Expectant mothers and caregivers with untreated dental caries, increases the child's risk for dental caries. Caries-causing bacteria that are transmitted via vertical (e.g., mother/caregiver to child) and horizontal (e.g., family or peers similar in age) also increases this risk.⁴ Dental caries experiences among children remain a global health concern. Globally, in 2019, the estimated prevalence and cases of dental caries in primary teeth among children aged 1-9 years was 42.7% and 514 million, respectively.⁵ Early childhood carries (ECC) is of  importance to young children, as it is the result of one or more decayed, filled, or missing primary tooth due to decay among those who are ≤ 71 months. Among children aged ≤ 3 years, any evidence of a smooth-surface decayed lesion is considered severe early childhood caries (S-ECC).⁶ While dental caries continues to impact children at an early age, it is largely preventabe, and the risk factors are modifiable.⁷ Dental caries is considered a noncommunicable disease, and factors associated with the cause and prevention are influenced by social determinants of health (SDoH).⁷ Social determinants of health are conditions such as economic stability, education access and quality, health care access and quality, neighborhood and built environment, and social community context that influence individual's health, well-being, and quality of life.⁸ When a caregiver and their family have one or more SDoH, it may be challenging to focus on oral health behaviors and practices for themselves or the child Therefore, these risk factors must be considered when promoting pediatric oral health with caregivers, families, and other health professionals. Educating and providing expectant mothers or caregivers with resources to share with family members who will be engaging with or caring for the child is equally important.

Rights

Copyright © 2026 The American Dental Hygienists' Association.

This article is open access and may not be copied, distributed or modified without written permission from the American Dental Hygienists' Association.

Included with the kind written permission of the copyright holders.

Original Publication Citation

McKinney, D. C. (2026). Leading the way in pediatric oral health promotion. Journal of Dental Hygiene, 100(1), 22-24. https://jdh.adha.org/content/100/1/22/tab-article-info

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