Dental Caries In Children

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Prevention of Dental Caries in Children According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), dental caries is considered as the most common chronic conditions among children in the United States even though it is largely preventable. About 1 of 5 children aged 5 to 11 years have at least one untreated affected tooth. Unfortunately, oral health care represents one of the largest unmet needs for children in the United States. Dental caries if left untreated can cause pain, infection and subsequent problems with eating, speaking, playing, and learning. Although caries has significantly decreased for most Americans over the past four decades, disparities remain among some population group. Prevalence of untreated dental caries among…show more content…
THESIS Mandal, Edelstein, and Minkovitz in their article “Changes in Children’s Oral Health Status and Receipt of Preventive Dental Visits, United States, 2003–2011/2012,” examined the changes in parent-reported children’s oral health status and receipt of preventive dental visits in 50 states and the District of Columbia. The authors used data retrieved from the 2003 and the 2011/2012 National Survey of Children’s Health. It was found in this study that in 2003, 67.7% of parents reported excellent or very good oral health for their children. This percentage slightly increased to 71.9% in 2011/2012. It was also noted that an increase in the receipt of at least 1 preventive care dental visit from 71.5% in 2003 to be 77.0% in 2011/2012 was observed as reported from parents. The survey showed an improvement in the prevalence of children scoring excellent or very good oral health status in 26 states. In addition, an improvement in the prevalence of preventive dental care visit was observed in 45 states; almost 90% of states. Children…show more content…
In the report, it was mentioned that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 recommends expanding insurance coverage, consumer protections, and access to care and places, emphasizing more on prevention. The US Preventive Services Task Force USPSTF recommends fluoride varnish application to the primary teeth of preschool children when the first tooth comes in, and oral fluoride supplements for preschool children at age 6 months and whose primary water source is deficient in fluoride. Public health organizations and agencies, dental providers in addition to their professional societies, and insurers both public and private, are key stakeholders in improving receipt of preventive dental services (CDC,

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