Baby Teeth Are Important:
Preventing Dental Disease in Children Saves Costs Later in Life
February is National Children's Dental Health Month. Dental disease, while preventable, continues to be the most common chronic disease of children.
Despite an overall decline in dental decay rates over the last thirty years, recent data highlight the need for more rigorous early oral assessments and prevention efforts, beginning with maternal education. A national survey revealed a 15 percent increase in dental decay among young children (ages 2 to 5).1 More than one in four pre-school age children have experienced the disease. Cavities in primary (baby) teeth are a strong marker for permanent (adult) tooth decay making it important to note that as this cohort of children age, treatment needs will skyrocket.
Dental disease (dental caries) is preventable.
- Dental caries is infectious. The bacteria that cause cavities are transferred through the saliva from mother/caretaker to child by the sharing of spoons and cups, testing food temperature or simply forgetting to wash hands before putting them in baby's mouth.
- Understand who's at risk and know how to limit risk factors. Knowing and limiting the risk factors associated with dental caries can prevent and help to mange the disease in young children. The more risk factors present, the more likely an infant or toddler will develop cavities.
- Dental disease is manageable. Once the disease producing bacteria are transferred from mother to child, cavities can still be prevented. New evidence shows that teeth exposed to fluoride toothpaste twice daily have a fluoride rich outer layer that makes them most resistant to tooth decay.
- Establish a dental home by age one. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics all agree that early risk assessment for dental disease is important.
- Maintain oral health during pregnancy. Women of childbearing age should visit their dentist during pregnancy to assure optimum oral health. According to the an Obstetrics and Periodontal Therapy study in the New England Journal of Medicine, treatment of periodontal (gum) disease in pregnant women was safe and resulted in improved oral health outcomes.2
Cost-Effectiveness of Preventive Services
- Low income children who have their first dental visit by age one are not only less likely to have subsequent restorative or emergency room visits, but their average dental-related costs are almost 40% lower ($263 compared to $447) over a five year period than children who receive their first preventive visit after age one.4
- The Centers for Disease Control and prevention reports that for every $1 invested in fluoridation, $38 in dental treatment costs is saved.5
What Can Employers Do?
To promote oral health among employees and their families, employers should:
- Work with health insurers to include dental benefits for all employees and their dependents.
- Educate women through wellness and health incentive programs about the importance of oral health care during pregnancy, risks of dental disease and the transmissibility of the disease to infants and toddlers.
- Encourage employees to use dental benefits and seek routine preventive care for themselves and all members of their family. Limit cost sharing of preventive dental exams by offering minimal co-payment.
- Support community water fluoridation efforts aimed at assuring optimum fluoride levels in the drinking water.
For additional information on Improving Perinatal and Infant Oral Health, please visit http://www.cdhp.org/Projects/PPMCHResources.asp
See also the Dental Caries (Under Child Health Promotion) section of A Purchaser's Guide to Clinical Preventive Services at http://www.businessgrouphealth.org/benefitstopics/topics/purchasers/condition_specific.cfm
Developed by:
Mary E. Foley, RDH, MPH
Project Director, Improving Perinatal and Infant Oral Health
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
Children's Dental Health Project
January 2007
Resource:
- National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III ( NHANES III) 1999-2002
- N Engl J Med 2006; 355:1885-1894, Nov 2, 2006
- New York State Department of Health. Practice Guidelines: Oral Health Care during Pregnancy and Early Childhood, April 2006
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Water Fluoridation and Costs of Medicaid Treatment for Dental Decay-Louisiana 1995-1996." MMWR Weekly September 03, 1999/48(34), pp. 753-757.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Oral Health Resources Fact Sheet. "Cost Savings of Community Water Fluoridation." Accessed January 12, 2007 at http://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/fact_sheets/cost.htm
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