For more information about First Tooth training opportunities or to schedule a training, please contact Amy Umphlett, First Tooth Project Coordinator at amy.m.umphlett@state.or.us or 971-673-1564.

Online

Comprehensive, web-based First Tooth training modules are being developed for both medical and dental providers. The online training for medical providers should be launched in late January 2012 and the one for dental providers should be launched in March 2012.

In-Person

First Tooth offers a no-cost training to medical and dental providers that is designed to help implement early childhood caries preventive services for infants and toddlers into their current practice. Development of the curriculum was done with input from the Oregon Academy of Pediatrics and follows the evidence-based practice for early childhood caries prevention (ECCP) that includes a risk assessment, anticipatory guidance, an intervention as appropriate, and referral to a dental home. Research studies show that application of fluoride varnish can reduce tooth decay by about 33% in primary teeth.

Training activities include:

• In-office continuing education or in-service trainings that usually take 1-2 hours depending on needs.
• Training topics include the prevalence and impact of oral disease, risk assessment, culturally appropriate anticipatory guidance, fluoride varnish application, implementation, workflow tips, and access to dental care.
• Training is provided to all staff and providers on how oral health preventive services can easily be integrated into their current services.
• Culturally appropriate handouts, exam/waiting room posters, and anticipatory guidance that can be shared with parents and caregivers.
• Guidelines to help the medical provider refer children to a dental home be age 1.
• Continued support and technical assistance with project staff on systems-based implementation, workflow, and clinical fluoride varnish application instruction.

First Tooth addresses the barriers to implementation by having our Limited Access Permit (LAP) Dental Hygienist trainer provide instruction, continued support and technical assistance with all staff on implementation. It moves beyond just the clinical intervention of fluoride varnish by involving the entire staff, not just the providers, in integrating oral health preventive services into their practice.