Specific educational guidance will be given to parents as needed and according to the infant’s risk of dental caries. The risk of caries must be identified at the first appointment, and the type of assistance that will be given to the infant depends on these risks.
For a low level of risk of tooth decay, the goal is to maintain an infant’s oral health. Clinical sessions include flushing with hydrogen peroxide (1 part H2O2 + 3 parts boiled or filtered water) and application of a 0.1% sodium fluoride (NaF) solution to a cotton swab. At home, parents/caregivers are instructed to maintain the same diet and hygiene habits and to use 0.05% sodium fluoride solution once/day on a cotton swab and wipe the mouth at night before putting the infant to bed. Appointments are booked at the infant dental clinic four times a year, and at the first session, caregivers are required to perform hygiene procedures and use a fluoride solution under professional supervision; To assess how skilled they are at doing these tasks as well as correct possible errors. If the risk of caries remains low, the quarterly schedule can be kept.
Cleaning the mouth of a toothless child with gauze and hydrogen peroxide
Use a 0.1% sodium fluoride solution and wipe with a cotton ball
When children have higher caries exposure, the goal is to shift the infant’s caries risk and increase tooth resistance. The clinical session includes identification and transformation of caries risk factors – parents are guided on how to control (either eliminate or reduce) caries risk factors. Dental resistance will be increased by using 0.1% Sodium Fluoride in wiping all tooth surfaces. Parents/home caregivers will be committed to follow oral hygiene procedures and eliminate poor brushing habits that increase the risk of caries development. Daily use of 0.05% Sodium Fluoride is also recommended. The examination can be repeated every one to two months. For children with a low risk of caries, caregivers are required to perform hygiene procedures and use fluoride solutions under professional supervision; To assess how skilled they are at doing these tasks as well as correct possible errors. Caries risk must be assessed again. In the first session, the parents are assessed on how they are doing and what recommendations are being followed to reduce the infant’s risk of caries.
For children with decayed teeth, the goal is to restore balance to the mouth by reducing the factors causing decay and increasing the resistance of the teeth, then four clinical sessions are conducted between each week so that the dentist can act on the factors causing decay (instructions to parents) to increase the resistance of the teeth ( Cleaning with diluted H2O2 solution and gauze, using fluoride coating over the thin white spots with caries), as well as filling dental cavities with vitreous ionomers (a non-invasive restorative treatment). Parents/home caregivers will be required to follow oral hygiene procedures, monitor diet, and daily use of 0.05% sodium fluoride solution. The first session is reserved after a month, at which time the risk of caries is re-evaluated in order to determine the appropriate booking periods. In the first session, caregivers are required to perform hygiene procedures and use a fluoride solution under professional supervision; To assess how skilled they are at doing these tasks as well as correct possible errors.
Caries risk will be assessed regularly regardless of the initial caries risk; So protocol changes can be implemented when necessary.
