Manski, M. (2019). Strategies for the prevention of dental cares.

Dimensions of Dental Hygiene,

17(3), 45-47.

Early childhood caries is the most common chronic disease in children. Motivational

interviewing is an effective way to create an individualized plan for each patient to help prevent

caries. When working with a pediatric patient, it is important to include the parents/caregivers

in the process. Dental hygienists are an important source to help patients and their families

with early childhood caries. 

This article is important to know as a dental hygiene student. It explained that

motivational interviewing with the entire family has better results than only explaining oral

hygiene instructions to the patient. I will use these findings as a future hygienist. I remember as

a child, my mom not being in the room when my hygienist would be explaining oral hygiene

instructions and I did not retain very much information when I left and tried to brush and floss

at home. If my mom would have been involved in the planning and treatment, I think I would

have had better results and not have needed as many fillings done. In lecture, we have learned

how to give oral hygiene instructions to adults, and we will be completing our oral hygiene

instructions for a class of kids soon. During our visit to the classrooms, I will be sure to bring

papers/coloring pages with information for the parents to review with the kids at home.