Improving children’s oral health in populations at risk saskatchewan ministry of health
1. Saskatchewan Ministry of Health
Improving Children’s Oral Health in
Populations at Risk
Saskatoon Oral Health Coalition
November 3, 2010
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2. Building a Healthier Saskatchewan
Sooner, Safer, Smarter: A Plan to
Transform the Surgical Patient Experience
4 year plan is based on 5 objectives:
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3. Building a Healthier Saskatchewan
Objectives:
• Shorter waits for surgical care
• A better experience for patients and
families
• Safe, high quality care
• Support for good health
• Patient centred providers.
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4. Building a Healthier Saskatchewan
Support for Good Health
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Tobacco Strategy
Healthy Weights
Injury Prevention
Oral Health Initiative for Populations at
Risk.
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5. BUILDING A HEALTHIER
SASKATCHEWAN
• Oral health is increasingly recognized as an
important component in overall health and
wellbeing.
• Yet Early Childhood Tooth Decay remains the
#1 chronic childhood disease in Canada.
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6. BUILDING A HEALTHIER
SASKATCHEWAN
• Each year approximately 1,800 children
under the age of five undergo dental
surgery under general anaesthetic –
more frequently than any other cause.
• Hundreds more are placed on long
waiting lists for as long as 12-18 months.
• 43% of all paediatric surgeries under GA
for children under 6, were dentally related
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7. Building a Healthier Saskatchewan
• PHB focus will be on upstream
interventions related to improving oral
health through prevention and education.
• Involves exploring opportunities for
collaboration with various partners who
share our interest in reducing dental decay
in young children.
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8. Building a Healthier Saskatchewan
• While great strides have been made in
reducing the high prevalence of dental
disease certain segments of the
population are left behind – primarily
people with low socioeconomic status,
Aboriginal Populations, recent immigrants
and vulnerable populations.
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9. Building a Healthier Saskatchewan
Canadian Oral Health Strategy Guidelines
for 2010
• By age 6, 50% of children have never
experienced tooth decay and no more than
20% have unmet dental needs.
• In Saskatchewan 41% have never
experienced tooth decay and 27% have
unmet dental needs.
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10. Building a Healthier Saskatchewan
Goal:
To reduce dental decay and contribute to
the healthy development of at risk
mothers, infants and preschool age
children.
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11. Building a Healthier Saskatchewan
• Project Charter completed
• Consultations underway
• Researching Best Practice Guidelines and
resources from other provinces etc.
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12. Building a Healthier Saskatchewan
Consultations and opportunities for collaboration
planned with:
• Health Canada – COHI Programs
• Regional Health Authorities – Dental Health
Educators and other public health staff
• Dental community – dentists, dental therapists,
dental hygienists, dental assistants.
• NITHA, FNIH
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13. Building a Healthier Saskatchewan
Focus will be on preventing dental disease
through:
• early screening and referral of disadvantaged
moms and children.
• Enhanced preventive services.
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16. Building a Healthier Saskatchewan
Early Childhood Tooth Decay (ECTD)
• Caused by a bacterial infection
• About 27% of children by age 6 have unmet
dental treatment needs in Saskatchewan
• About 10-15% have ECTD; particularly
prevalent in at risk populations.
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17. Why Are Children’s First Teeth
So Important ?
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Eating
Speaking
Smiling
Positioning of
permanent teeth
• Self-Esteem
• Improved overall
health
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18. Building a Healthier Saskatchewan
• Major causes of ECTD
– Poor oral hygiene habits
– Putting your baby to bed with a bottle and
staying on the bottle past age one
– Drinking from a bottle or training cup all day
– Snacking too often on sweet foods and drinks
– Lack of access to dental care and prevention.
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20. Building a Healthier Saskatchewan
• Impact on health
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Pain and infection
Failure to thrive
Poor nutrition
Affects speech, ability to concentrate, sleep
Self esteem and willingness to smile
Spacing and alignment of permanent teeth
Leads to poor oral health as an adult.
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21. Building a Healthier Saskatchewan
• Extensive dental treatment on very young
children can be challenging for dental
practitioners.
• Often treatment involves a trip to the
hospital for general anaesthetic
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24. Building a Healthier Saskatchewan
• The good news is …..
Tooth decay is preventable
Working with parents and children at a young age
can help create a lifetime of healthy teeth
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25. Building a Healthier Saskatchewan
Preventive Services could include:
• Screening & risk assessment (prenatal
and ages 0-2)
• Education and counselling
• Fluoride Varnish treatments
• Support related to access to care
• Promotion of community water fluoridation
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26. Building a Healthier Saskatchewan
Potential Resource Needs
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Fluoride varnish supplies
Train the trainer resources
Education resources
Prevention & Promotion resource
development
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31. Making Healthy Eating Choices Easier
•
Food choices are
influenced by
knowledge, tradition
& social
circumstances,
availability and cost.
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