Public and clinical policy considerations in maximizing children's oral health.

Although children's oral health in the US has improved over recent decades, a subset of children continues to suffer extensive disease that is severe enough to constitute a public health problem with considerable individual consequences. Disparities in oral health are wide and growing. Dental caries prevalence may be increasing with shifts in child demographics. Policy approaches to maximizing children's oral health and pediatricians' roles in promoting effective policies are discussed.