A Dental Visit is Important Part of Back-to-school Health

Back to school time brings about thoughts of new backpacks and school supplies, clothing, and even doctor's visits for routine check ups, immunizations, and sports health sign offs. An Aug. 27 press release from the American Dental Association (ADA) and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) urges parents to include a dental examination as part of back to school preparations.

According to the ADA and AAP, an annual dental examination is an important part of maintaining children's overall health.

"Ideally children will have their first dental visit before the age of 3 when most of their teeth and molars have come in," said J.P. Ancona, M.D. of Gales Ferry Pediatric Group in Gales Ferry, CT. "A pediatric dentist specializes in knowing what to look for in young children's teeth and how to make them feel comfortable. Early dental visits set the stage for good dental hygiene habits."

According to the ADA press release and National Institute of Dental Research data, more than half of all 5-to 9-year-old children have at least one cavity or filling and tooth decay is the most prevalent preventable chronic disease of childhood.

"When a child has serious tooth decay, it can affect overall health and can lead to problems in eating, speaking and paying attention in class, which is why it is important to include an oral health assessment by a dentist as part of the routine back-to-school health examination," says Rani Gereige, M.D., MPH, FAAP, and member of the AAP's executive committee of the Council on School Health, in the press release.

The timing of this announcement is targeted to remind parents to complete all the health examinations and necessary immunizations for their children in time for the new school year, and to consider dental health as a part of their child's preventative care.

Unfortunately, many families do not have dental insurance, which makes the cost of routine dental care prohibitive. For families enrolled in publicly supported health care, State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), dental care is generally part of the coverage. While this is the ideal, many families have difficulty finding a provider who accepts their insurance or does so in a timely basis. In these instances, looking to community organizations or consider seeking a payment plan with individual dentists.

"Even if a child's first visit is before kindergarten, it's better than not at all," Ancona said. "Parents should ask their pediatrician to recommend a pediatric dentist if they don't know of one already." The official AAP recommendation is for children to visit the dentist after the first tooth emerges, typically between the age of 6 to 12 months.

Source:

Newswise

National Conference of State Legislatures

Personal interview, Dr. J.P. Ancona