With all of that Halloween candy already floating around in stores, schools, and homes, children are exposed to an awful lot of sugar this time of year. That sugar feeds bacteria in their small mouths, creating all the right conditions to cause . At least they’re all keeping up with their six month preventive dental checkups, right? Unfortunately, a staggering number of kids in the United States don’t receive any preventive dentistry services. This is according to a recent report published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Supplement by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Prevention and Early Intervention
Preventive dentistry refers to dental care designed to support clean teeth and gums and healthy development of oral tissues. Dentists are the main stop for dental care, but pediatricians may also look at your child’s teeth during their overall health checkups. The importance of dental checkups and cleanings translates into a much lower risk of many diseases which start in the mouth, but can affect overall health down the line. Catching dental infections early makes problems much more treatable and less expensive to remedy.
CDC on a Quest
Scientists at the CDC looked at 11 clinical preventive services including hearing and vision screenings, lead levels in the blood, and questions about dental care. In 2007, eight out of 10 little ones between 10 months and four years were screened in the various oral and overall health areas. After two years, it was found that over half of the children had not visited a dentist within the prior year. Even worse, nine out of 10 had not received sealants or fluoride treatments as a part of preventive care. By educating patients and figuring out the core issues at hand, along with promoting the Affordable Care Act, the CDC hopes to help change these numbers in the near future to reflect more proactivity in preventive dental care for kids.
About Your Lake Orion Family Dentist
To learn more about our services, or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Brad Greenfield, contact Lake Orion Family Dentistry at 248-693-6213. We welcome patients living in and around Lake Orion, Royal Oak.
