IOCP MISSION

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recognizes the importance of education, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment  necessary to maintain the oral health of infants, children, and adolescents through preventive and restorative care. Furthermore, the AAPD recognizes that infant oral health is one of the foundations upon which preventive education and dental care must be built to enhance the opportunity for a lifetime free from preventable oral disease. The AAPD proposes recommendations for preventive strategies, oral health risk assessment, anticipatory guidance, and therapeutic interventions to be followed by dental, medical, nursing, and allied health professional programs. Comprehensive health care cannot be achieved unless oral care is included in all health service programs. 

Policy Statement

The AAPD advocates that oral health care must be included in the design and provision of individual, community-based, and national health care programs to achieve comprehensive health care. This can be achieved through the recommendations of the DHHS report "National Call to Action to Promote Oral Health."

WHY SHOULD WE CARE?

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*Pictured above is the common progression from healthy teeth to Early childhood caries (ECC).