Introduction

This Oral Health Manual was written by Abbey Corbett and Cameron

Roling, two final year Bachelor of Dental Surgery students at the

University of Otago under the guidance of Associate Professor John

Broughton and Kate Morgaine. It has been created for use in a research

trial in New Zealand and as part of a wider research group that spans

New Zealand, Australia, and Canada. It aims to decrease Early Childhood

Caries in indigenous populations, by providing oral health information and

support for mothers and their children.

This manual has been prepared for use in New Zealand to assist Kaitiaki

and Māori community leaders to provide accurate information, and

support Maori women to improve the oral health of their children.

Information in this manual will address significant risk factors of Early Childhood Caries

that are pertinent to Māori, such as oral hygiene and diet. In

2010, Parker et al showed that indigenous children from New

Zealand, Australia, Canada and the United

States of America have significant disparities in their oral health status

when compared to children of the non-indigenous population.

The overall aim of this work is in keeping with the oral health vision

for New Zealand – Good Oral Health for All for Life – as it focuses on

two priority groups – preschoolers and Maori. It utilises a

multidisciplinary approach by employing non-oral health professionals

from the community to work with people whose children may be at