January 10, 2025; A timely and crucial update from our Chapter's Oral Health Champion: Oral Health is important for Overall Health
To the AAP Chapter Members,
As your Chapter Oral Health Advocate, it is crucial for me to share important clinical updates related to oral health and the practice of pediatrics. Recently, a publication in JAMA Pediatrics discussed the relationship between fluoride and IQ levels in children, which was highlighted in the AAP Daily Briefing on Wednesday, January 8th. This is an essential topic to review and understand, as the title of the article may raise concerns about our current community water fluoridation policies and toothbrushing practices using fluoride toothpaste in the United States.
I would like to share both the full article and an insightful editorial by Dr. Steve Levy, DDS, from the University of Iowa. If you spend a few moments reading each, I believe you will gain a balanced viewpoint. My key takeaways are as follows:
- Fluoride is necessary to prevent the most common chronic disease in children: Dental caries.
- Current water fluoridation levels are safe in our Iowa communities, but we need to monitor these levels closely.
- It is important to educate our patients on the correct amount of fluoride toothpaste to use (a smear for children under 3 years old and a pea-sized amount for those 3 years and older).
- We should be cautious not to rely solely on titles and conclusions when reading journal articles, as they can be misleading. Dr. Levy highlights some significant concerns regarding the study's process and potential biases.
Please take the time to review these materials and feel free to reach out to me if you would like to discuss further.
-J. Michael Metts DO FAAP
"I’m excited to share that the I-Smile program and its companion initiative, Cavity Free Iowa, have been highlighted by the Consortium for Oral Health Systems Integration and Improvement as exemplary statewide programs!" -
Dr. J Michael Metts
I-Smile is a statewide program of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS) that connects pregnant women and children and their families in Iowa with oral health, medical, and community resources to help ensure a lifetime of health and wellness.
Cavity Free Iowa (CFI), a program linked to I-Smile, aims to boost oral health screenings and care for children from birth to age 6 in Iowa during well-child visits. This includes oral health screenings, fluoride varnish applications, anticipatory guidance, and dental referrals. Local I-Smile coordinators also provide training and assist with referrals.
CFI's workgroup has now joined the Oral Health Iowa, a statewide coalition, to expand awareness and integration of medical and dental care. The workgroup includes representatives from various organizations such as Iowa HHS, Broadlawns Dental Clinic, Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation, local I-Smile coordinators, Iowa’s Medicaid program, pediatricians, and nonprofit dental clinics.
Updates:
- Iowa was one of five state programs selected by the consortium “think tank” to spotlight within a report, Integrating Oral Health Care into Primary Care and a stand-alone spotlight summaries.
Webinar Recordings:
Session 2: Closing the Divide Webinar Educational Series, Integrating Medical and Dental Systems in Iowa:
Open Wide: Expanding Medical Practice to Include Oral Health
Monday, November 4, 2024. 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Virtual
Join our virtual educational session to learn how oral health services can be incorporated within medical visits for children and adults in Iowa. Oral health services can be part of medical visits, helping ensure overall health of children and adults. Learn about some of the ways this is happening in Iowa, and how they may be replicated. Speakers include Dr. Mike Metts, a Des Moines pediatrician; Carole Ferch, I-Smile Silver Coordinator for Scott County Health Department; and Dr. Christina Scherrer, professor at Kennesaw State University.
