Many national policy makers had concluded that dental caries was headed for extinction and that we will need fewer dentists. Medicaid funding for dental care has suffered. However, in the fluoridated city of Cambridge, MA, epidemiologic surveys have shown far higher caries rates than national surveys would have predicted. Among a sample of first and eighth graders screened, 43% and 40 % respectively have experienced dental caries. In the affected group, 69 % of first graders have untreated decayed teeth. Alarmingly, the disease has not been treated in 80% of the affected first graders who do not speak English at home. The Children's Dental Project of the Cambridge Health Alliance has examined 2,415 students between 1997 and 1999 in a student body of 2503 in grades one to four. Of the 148 children who were diagnosed as Triage 3 in immediate need of dental services, 88% were successfully linked to a local dentist. 12% of parents refused to have their children seen, 47% completed treatment, and 41% are in treatment. A preventive dentistry program is being planned for implementation. Need for and access to dental care may be an increasing problem in the U.S. as the number of dentists declines over the coming years and public funds for dental care remain low.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to: 1. Describe the dental caries rate for high risk children. 2. Articulate possible outcomes of an oral health screening program. 3. Apply this knowledge to the oral health policies in their own community
Keywords: E Code,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.