Abstract for: A Simulation Model for Designing Effective Interventions in Early Childhood Caries

Dental caries in primary teeth of children 5 years of age or younger is one of the major health problems in the United States, especially for low-income children. This paper presents a framework for assessing the impact of various programs designed to reduce the prevalence and consequences of Early Childhood Caries. The paper describes a System Dynamics simulation model of the population of children 0-5 years old in Colorado. Results of simulations with a number of individual interventions and combined strategies are presented and program costs and savings in treatment costs are compared.