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A new program will try to stop tooth decay by adding a new layer to monitoring a child’s health. Programs to implement tooth decay prevention in a child’s visit to the doctor could be vital toward a child’s oral health.
University of Florida researchers will analyze the results in Florida and Texas among children enrolled in Medicaid. The researchers are buoyed by an almost $300,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health.
The recommended age for a first dental visit is by the child’s first birthday, but there are many children who don’t receive proper dental care until they’re older.
Some parents feel baby teeth aren’t that important, so they neglect the proper care the child needs. The results can be devastating because a simple cavity may lead to infection, and in some cases death.
This program in Florida and Texas began in 2008, when the states adopted policies that would reimburse pediatricians if they offered preventive services for children covered by Medicaid. Part of the deal was also providing dental education to the children’s parents to make sure the child didn’t develop any serious oral health issues. The dental education includes basic information, like proper brushing and flossing routines. The child then may be referred to a dentist.
The research indicates that when the parent is told how essential maintaining solid oral health is, there will be fewer problems later in life.
Parents should brush their children’s teeth twice per day with fluoride. Experts are trying to get rid of the notion that children younger than 2 should not have their teeth exposed to fluoride.
Some of the ongoing problems are the reluctance of dentists to see Medicaid patients and young children who have major dental problems because the children need to be sedated or put under anesthesia to fix the issues.
Still, there are now 33 states that have included preventive dental measures in pediatric care, despite the lack of evidence that this method is improving the overall dental care of children.
Researchers for this study included Frank Catalanotto, DMD, professor of pediatric dentistry in the College of Dentistry at the University of Florida, Scott Tomar, DMD, a professor of community dentistry in the College of Dentistry and Elizabeth Shenkman, Ph.D., director of the Institute for Child Health Policy and chair of health outcomes and policy in the College of Medicine.
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