Preventive techniques in infant dental care.

Dental caries is the most prevalent disease among young people in the United States today. Yet, most parents don't realize that early dental care is the best insurance against adult dental disease. Because prevention should begin at birth, long before the first dental visit, nurse practitioners can play an important role in educating parents about the need for early attention to their children's dental health. This article presents to the nurse practitioner an overview of preventive dental techniques, including the effectiveness and application of fluorides, the value of early and regular oral cleaning habits and the importance of early and regular consultations with health care professionals.