The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is commemorating a significant milestone with its "Into the Mouths of Babes" program, which has hit the 25-year mark of promoting oral hygiene among the state's youngest residents insured by NC Medicaid. According to a statement obtained by NCDHHS, since the turn of the millennium, this initiative has enabled medical providers across North Carolina to provide early dental evaluations, preventive oral health care, and other critical dental services for infants and toddlers.
Dr. Patrick Roberson, DDS, the North Carolina State Dental Director, emphasized the prevalence of tooth decay in children, calling it "the most common chronic disease in children," as mentioned on NCDHHS. He also praised the program for its role in delivering essential health services to those who need them most, and for seamlessly connecting medical and dental care to improve health outcomes. Moving forward, the program aims to continue to address oral health disparities and stress the importance of early intervention.
The early iteration known as "Smart Smiles" began in the 1990s in nine western counties of North Carolina and by 2001, the 'Into the Mouths of Babes' program had rolled out statewide, leveraging NC Medicaid's reimbursement structure. Dr. Mark Casey, DDS, MPH, Dental Officer for NC Medicaid, revealed the impressive reach of the initiative: "Since Into the Mouths of Babes began, more than 2.8 million claims have been submitted for preventive oral health services," he described on NCDHHS, underscoring the program's far-reaching impact.
Early oral health evaluations are pivotal as they enable providers to identify and to address issues before they escalate, as highlighted by Dr. Marston Crawford, MD, FAAP, a pediatrician at Coastal Children’s Clinic. "These treatments, combined with caregiver discussion about early oral health, have sharply reduced cavities and preventable dental surgery," Crawford noted in a NCDHHS interview, attesting to the effectiveness of the program in his practice.
Education and hands-on training form the crux of the program's sustained success, as noted by NCDHHS, which employs 20 public health dental hygienists across 10 state regions. These professionals provide vital training for 'Into the Mouths of Babes'. It's a concerted effort backed by heavy-hitters like NC Medicaid, UNC's reputable schools of Dentistry and Global Public Health, the North Carolina Pediatric Society, and the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians, among others.
Gregory Griggs, Executive Vice President of the NC Academy of Family Physicians, expressed pride in supporting the initiative. "It has made a huge difference in reducing tooth decay for children across North Carolina," Griggs said on NCDHHS, a sentiment that rings true for countless North Carolinian families who have benefitted from 25 years of dedicated service to children's oral health.
