Dental Care Considerations for Young Children

Because of their developmental dependency, young children constitute a special population requiring the attention and consideration of society and its governmental policymakers.  Oral health is an essential and leading component of children’s overall health, functional capacity, and social welfare. This chapter focuses on young children’s oral health by highlighting disparities in both health status and dental care, recognizing demographic trends that will shape policies addressing their needs, describing barriers to their care, and suggesting fruitful opportunities to enhance their oral health, particularly through health professions training.