dental / childrens Oral Health Initiative (cohi)
Children’s Oral Health Initiative (COHI)
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Ultimate goals of COHI:
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Improve oral health for children which supports the overall general health
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Increase the number of children free of tooth decay
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Reduce the need to use general anaesthetics for treatment of tooth decay
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Teach and support the parent/caregiver to prevent dental disease for themselves and their children
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Introduce children to dentistry in a positive way
Six Fundamental ideas of COHI
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Encourage early first dental visits
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Prevent and manage tooth decay
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Promote regular dental visits
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Explain the disease process -stressing the infectious nature
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Teach and promote the use of simple preventive techniques
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Develop strong partnerships within the communities to promote good oral hygiene
Who is Eligible for COHI
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First Nations and Inuit Children age 0-7 years
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Parents/caregivers of children age 0-7 years
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Prenatal women
COHI Services
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Dental Screening
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Fluoride Varnish Application
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Sealants
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One-on-one education sessions on oral health self-care practices-part of every COHI interaction
What we know
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Greater ability to prevent disease
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Improved products with proven results
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Less painful techniques
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Ability to build capacity and knowledge at the community level
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With focus on infants and young children
HEALTHY SMILES START WITH CHILDREN'S ORAL HEALTH INITIATIVE
