Here, I'm not just talking about dentistry, medicine and public health working together. This principle is about expanding the definition of what it means to be a dentist. So too is the fact that some dentists conduct smoking cessation classes. On to my fourth principle. We must focus like a laser on prevention.
Prevention works - and no profession has done a better job of it than dentistry.
One of today's most important battles is against Early Childhood Caries - a disfiguring form of tooth decay. Early Childhood Caries is a complex and not fully understood disease. But it is preventable. Prevention starts with good prenatal care for the mother and her baby. But because caries is an infectious disease - treatment must include good oral hygiene for everyone involved with the child, and the use of fluoride, sealants, good nutrition and regular visits to the dentist.