About IOCP
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The Infant Oral Care Program was founded in 2010 by Dr. Francisco Ramos-Gomez and serves to provide preventive dental care for children (ages 0 to 5) of families who cannot necessarily afford the treatment they would otherwise receive at a private dental practice. One of the main focus at IOCP is to reduce Early Childhood disease (ECC) and increase incidence of white spot lesion remineralization. Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is the most chronic childhood disease and more predominant in low-income and under-served children. Although easily transmitted, ECC is entirely preventable.
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At IOCP we focus on educating parents on oral health in order to establish good oral hygiene habits at home. To reach our goals we use anticipatory guidance. Anticipatory guidance is the counseling of parents by health providers about developmental changes that will occur in their children between health visits, for children's dental health is an important part of preventive care. It may be the most effective way to prevent problems that traditional infectious disease models have failed to address, such as ECC.
The model of anticipatory guidance is valuable for dental professionals because it emphasizes prevention of dental problems rather than restorative care. A comprehensive infant oral care program utilizes (1) oral health assessment at regularly scheduled dental visits, (2) risk assessments, (3) counseling sessions with parents during either regular dental visits or additional visits scheduled if a child is deemed at risk, (4) preventive treatment such as the application of fluoride varnish or sealants, and (5) outreach and incentives to reinforce attendance. Facilitating access to early and regular dental care is a crucial part of any effective intervention strategy, and intervention techniques should be tailored to the community being served.
The model of anticipatory guidance is valuable for dental professionals because it emphasizes prevention of dental problems rather than restorative care. A comprehensive infant oral care program utilizes (1) oral health assessment at regularly scheduled dental visits, (2) risk assessments, (3) counseling sessions with parents during either regular dental visits or additional visits scheduled if a child is deemed at risk, (4) preventive treatment such as the application of fluoride varnish or sealants, and (5) outreach and incentives to reinforce attendance. Facilitating access to early and regular dental care is a crucial part of any effective intervention strategy, and intervention techniques should be tailored to the community being served.
