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Maine

Maine’s From the First Tooth (FTFT) is an initiative funded by the Children’s Oral Health Network of Maine. FTFT aims to improve the oral health of Maine’s children from the eruption of a child’s first tooth through the age of five by implementing an evidence-based preventive oral health approach in the medical home. Oral health is a part of overall health, so it is important for medical providers to play a key role in preventing childhood caries. FTFT encourages pediatricians and family medicine providers to incorporate the following steps into well-child visits:

  • Oral health risk assessment
  • Fluoride varnish application to help prevent childhood caries*
  • Parent/caregiver education
  • Referrals to dental homes for routine or more immediate care as needed

*Research shows that children who receive at least four fluoride applications before age four have lower rates of tooth decay

From The First Tooth provides on-going technical support and quality improvement to medical practices.