Dental hygienists are well-equipped to advocate for improving access to care for the Nation’s most vulnerable populations.

With a growing body of evidence in preventive dental science and increased focus on patient-centered care, oral health professionals should consider new approaches to caries management.

Risk assessment, effective communication, and self-management goal setting are integral to supporting the oral health of children.

Understanding these neurodevelopmental disorders will help oral health professionals provide safe and effective care.

Effectively managing our youngest patients and assessing their caries risk get children on the path toward lifelong oral health.

Following are strategies for supporting oral health and ensuring positive dental experiences in this patient population.

Oral health professionals can help ensure a lifetime of oral health by educating children and families about the importance of diet during the developmental years.

As the link between maternal and infant oral health becomes more clear, dental hygiene practice must also evolve to reflect this new knowledge.

Are plaque-disclosing agents useful tools when educating pediatric patients and their parents/caregivers about oral disease prevention and the importance of good oral hygiene?

Understanding the risk for TDIs and performing trauma first aid when they occur can encourage positive oral health outcomes.