In 1994 a group of concerned dentists, dental educators, public health agencies, the state dental association, and state Medicaid representatives came together to address the problem of the severe lack of dental access by Washington State's high-risk preschool children. The proposed solution was the development of the Access to Baby and Child Dentistry (ABCD) Program.

Access to Baby and Child Dentistry focuses on preventive and restorative dental care for Medicaid-eligible children from birth to age six, with emphasis on enrollment by age one. It is based upon the premise that starting dental visits early will yield positive behaviors by both parents and children, thereby helping to control the caries process and reduce the need for costly future restorative work.

The first ABCD program opened for enrollment in Spokane, Washington in February 1995 as a collaborative effort between several partners in the public and private sectors. Its success has inspired other county dental societies and health districts in Washington to adopt the program, as well as prompted interest from other states.

OTHER ABCD PROGRAMS
AWARDS