A Maryland Head Start Dental Survey, commissioned by Maryland’s Department of Health, was conducted between March–June 2000. Visual caries examinations were conducted on 484 children ages 3-4 from 37 Head Start Centers though out Maryland. Questionnaires regarding caries risk factors, access to care and oral pain in the children were completed by 560 caretakers. Caries prevalence was 52.3% with a higher prevalence found in rural than non-rural areas (63% vs. 48%). The mean decay, filled surfaces (dfs) was 3.64, while the decayed surfaces were 2.9. Children that had untreated caries increased in age groups with 43% of the 3 yr. olds and 62% of the 4 yr. olds having untreated caries. Of those children who have caries by examination, 16.6% have complained of tooth pain and 9% reportedly cried because of a toothache. Despite the required dental screening for all Maryland Head Start children, the caries prevalence is high and the treatment was very low. Of significance in this study was the finding that only 22% of the affected surfaces were restored, demonstrating that although dental caries is highly prevalent in this population, there is little access to care despite federally mandated EPSDT requirements. Additionally, the finding that 16.6% of those children with dental caries have complained of pain indicates the severity of this problem as well as the lack of access to oral health care.
Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to identify the magnitud of the oral health problems of children attending Head Start in Maryland.
Keywords: Oral Health, Head Start
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.