24
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Volume3 Issue5
I
ssues and
P
eople
ARiskManagement Approach to
EARLYCHILDHOOD
CARIES
Dr. IanMcConnachie, apediatricdentist fromOttawa, sees this
asacrossroad for theprofession. “Ibelieve that theprofession,
the leadershipand theeducatorsneed todevelopprogramsand
opportunities forourmembers todevelop skill sets.Andat the
same time,ourmembersneed to feel comfortable that theycan
develop those skillsandestablishadentalhomeearlyon—to the
mutualbenefitof the familiesand theprofession.”
Roadmap toECC risk assessment and
management
Dr.McConnachiedevelopedabasic strategy for treatingyoung
patients. “Myphilosophyof care isonegeared towardproviding
empatheticcare, growing the relationshipswith the families and
establishingadental home for thechildren,” heexplains. “It focuses
ondevelopinga truecollaborationwith theparents, andhelping
them inmakingchoices. That effectivecollaboration really is the
key to success.”
Riskassessment
It all beginswith thefirst exambyage1orwithin6monthsof
first tootheruption, saysDr.McConnachie. Earlyvisits arean
opportunity toassess risk for ECCand toput inplacea specific
plan for thechild, incollaborationwithan informedparent. “The
actual exam is avery small part of theoverall visit,what I callmy
30-second special,” heexplains. “Most of thevisit isdonewithout
thechild in thechair and inconversationwith theparent.”
Early childhood caries (ECC) continues to take aheavy toll onCanadian children.Whilemany parents
nowunderstandandappreciate the importance of early oral care—bothat home and in-office—, some
struggle tofindadentistwilling to see their infants.
My philosophy of care is one
geared toward providing
empathetic care, growing the
relationshipswith the families
and establishingadental
home for the children.
—Dr. IanMcConnachie
