Infant oral health: a protocol.

The potential exists today for dental health professionals to assist parents in rearing caries-free children. The knowledge and technology are available and the request for this service is growing. The dental professional has the opportunity to accept this role with enthusiasm and continue to be a leader among the health professions in disease prevention. The dental profession must not ignore the oral health needs of infants and toddlers under three years of age. We must instead, take advantage of our knowledge and technology and begin our disease prevention efforts with children as infants, and educate parents regarding their important role in the oral health of their children. By doing so we can provide a pleasant and logical introduction to dentistry and promote the profession in a most positive way.