A Healthy Smile for Life 3.0: A Multidisciplinary Public Health Model for Early Childhood Oral Health Prevention

Background:
Early childhood represents a critical window for the prevention of oral diseases and the promotion of lifelong health. Scientific evidence supports the integration of oral health into maternal and child healthcare pathways, particularly during pregnancy and the first 1000 days of life. In this context, the World Health Organization, through the Global Oral Health Status Report (2022), emphasizes the need for preventive, integrated and equity‑oriented strategies targeting vulnerable populations. However, translating these recommendations into structured and scalable preventive oral health models within public healthcare systems remains a challenge.
Objective:
To describe the design and conceptual framework of “A Healthy Smile for Life 3.0”, an integrated public health model for early childhood oral health prevention developed within the Italian public healthcare system.
Methods:
The program was designed as a publicly funded intervention implemented in family counselling centres and pediatric hospital settings. It involves an interdisciplinary network of midwives, gynecologists, pediatricians and teachers operating within hospital schools to ensure continuity of care and education for children. Dental hygienists act as oral health educators within this integrated framework. Structured educational sessions address oral hygiene practices, feeding habits, tongue hygiene and caregiver empowerment.
Results:
The program led to the development of standardized educational protocols and shared evidence‑based materials, ensuring consistent implementation across community and hospital contexts. From an organizational perspective, the model demonstrated feasibility within routine maternal–child healthcare services and effective coordination between healthcare and educational institutions. Preliminary outcomes highlight strong inter‑institutional collaboration and potential for equitable access to preventive oral health interventions.
Conclusions:
“A Healthy Smile for Life 3.0” represents an innovative integrated public health model for early childhood oral health prevention. The project aligns with WHO strategic priorities and contributes to the implementation of the Global Oral Health Action Plan 2023–2030, supporting interdisciplinary and cross‑sectoral prevention strategies.