Tooth Decay Most Prevalent Health Problem for California Children
Nearly 71% of California children in the third grade have had tooth decay, making it the most prevalent health problem among children in the state, according to a study released Sunday by the Dental Health Foundation, the San Francisco Chronicle reports (DeFao, San Francisco Chronicle, 2/6).
DHF Chair David Perry said, "[D]ental disease is now the single most common chronic disease of childhood" in the state (Anderson, Los Angeles Daily News, 2/6).
In the DHF study, researchers examined more than 21,000 children in kindergarten and third grade at 186 schools across the state during the 2004-2005 school year (San Francisco Chronicle, 2/6). Of the 25 states participating in the survey, only Arkansas had a higher frequency of tooth decay in students (Wiener, Sacramento Bee, 2/6).
The study found:
- Almost 29% of kindergarteners and third graders had untreated cavities;
- 4% of children studied needed urgent dental care;
- As many as 750,000 California children may need dental care, with 138,000 needing urgent care;
- 17% of kindergarteners and 5.5% of third-graders had never been to a dentist;
- 23% of children surveyed had no dental insurance;
- 42% of children surveyed had dental coverage under Medi-Cal and Healthy Families;
- 35% of children surveyed had private dental insurance (San Francisco Chronicle, 2/6); and
- Latino children had the highest risk of dental problems, with 72% experiencing some decay and 26% having severe decay in seven or more teeth. The rate is twice the rate of decay in white children.
DHF on Feb. 28 will present its findings and recommendations to the Assembly Health Committee. Recommendations include requiring dental care for all children by kindergarten and providing financial incentives to dentists to offer early preventive care.
DHF and the California Dental Association also are starting an education campaign for health care professionals to better prevent, detect and treat dental disease in children, as part of a $10-million effort to reduce dental disease in California. First 5 California is funding an outreach program affiliated with the campaign (San Francisco Chronicle, 2/6).
In addition, DHF is working to establish a surveillance system, increase access to dental coverage and preventive care and increase the use of fluoridation and dental sealants (Los Angeles Daily News, 2/6).
David Nelson, a consultant with the Department of Health Services' Office of Oral Health, said that the state aims to enroll eligible children in public dental insurance programs (Sacramento Bee, 2/6).
The study is available online. Note: You will need Adobe Acrobat to view the report.