The integration of dental health into the early intervention program at Waltham Hospital

Date
1979
DOI
Authors
Beck, Sandra Kaye
Waltham Hospital (Mass)
Version
OA Version
Citation
Abstract
Early Intervention is concerned with the development and health of a child from birth to age three. Therefore, by intervening with dental health information during this most critical stage in development, a more positive step can be taken to enhance the total health of each child. Thus, this intervention would lead to prevention, ultimately avoiding crisis dental treatment. Therefore, the purpose of this practicum was to integrate dental health into the Early Intervention Program at Waltham Hospital in Waltham, Massachusetts. To achieve the above goal, three in-service sessions were conducted to increase the early intervention team's awareness of the oral health needs of both their clients and themselves. It was hoped that this awareness would enable the team to develop and implement a dental health program specific to each clients' needs; and in addition, enable the team to furnish the parents (primary caregivers) with dental health information. The in-services were structured with lectures, group discussions, viewing of overhead transparencies, and a slide presentation. Handouts supplemented the in-service sessions. Evaluation of the program was conducted in the following: 1. feedback from the team members concerning the program, 2, a pre-test in questionnaire form and 3, a post-test composed of two case studies followed by questions. When the program was evaluated, it appeared that a dental health education program, as described in an early intervention setting, will increase the dental awareness and knowledge of those involved. It seems that constant participation, visual reinforcement, and educator encouragement and enthusiasm were all positive motivating factors that helped achieve the goal. The parent being the primary caregiver from birth to three years of age, establishes the fact that dental intervention, leading to prevention, cannot be over emphasized. Since dental health was identified as a need in this Early Intervention Program, the dental educator hopes that other early intervention teams will recognize the importance of dental health in their existing programs. If the above be the case, and follow through of the dental program is maintained, then it is hoped that each child will benefit from the early dental intervention.
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Thesis (M.S.)--Boston University, Henry M. Goldman School of Graduate Dentistry, 1979 (Dental Public Health)
Bibliography : leaves [24-26]
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