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Baby Bottle Tooth Decay Program

A Good Idea

Description

The goal of the Baby Bottle Tooth Decay (BBTD) Program is to prevent early childhood caries in children ages four and younger living in Vermont.

The program periodically sends information to pediatricians' offices to recruit their support and promote dental health education, baby bottle tooth decay assessments, fluoride supplements, and dental referrals for early prevention. Pediatricians are encouraged to talk to parents about baby bottle use and oral hygiene during early well child visits. In addition, program staff work with WIC clinics to promote dental health education, detect baby bottle tooth decay, and make dental referrals. Finally, the BBTD Program offers to test the fluoride level in private water sources in order to assess the need for and appropriate amount of fluoride supplements.

Goal / Mission

The goal of the Baby Bottle Tooth Decay Program is to prevent early childhood caries.

Results / Accomplishments

The Baby Bottle Tooth Decay Program has succeeded in recruiting 110 dentists to treat children that are referred through the program.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
Vermont Department of Health
Primary Contact
Steve Arthur
Vermont Department of Health
108 Cherry St., P.O. Box 70
Burlington, VT 05402
(802) 863-7497
sarthur@vdh.state.vt.us
Topics
Health / Oral Health
Health / Children's Health
Health / Prevention & Safety
Organization(s)
Vermont Department of Health
Date of publication
Dec 2001
Date of implementation
1997
Location
Vermont
For more details
Target Audience
Children
Michigan Health Improvement Alliance