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For over 50 years the American Dental Association (ADA) has designated February as National Children's Dental Health Month (NCDHM).1 Dental professionals across the country plan activities to raise awareness about the value of oral health practices at home, regular check-ups, and the relationship of these activities to the overall health of children. Dental caries is the greatest unmet children's health need in the United States, especially among those between 2 and 5 years old.2While NPs include oral health assessments and anticipatory guidance as part of routine maintenance healthcare for children, there is little evidence that we have taken an active role in supporting the efforts of dental health professionals to reduce the incidence of early childhood caries (ECC).3 ECC is defined as the presence of one or more decayed, missing (due to decay), or filled tooth surfaces in any primary tooth in children under 72 months old.4 The incidence of ECC is particularly troublesome in diverse populations with 21% of Latino children and 11% of African American and Native American children affected.

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