“Cavities are the number one chronic disease, despite being preventable and, in the early stages, reversible.” ( CNW Group, 2015) It is widely accepted among dental professionals that the oral health of a child directly affects their physical health and well-being. Dental decay is an oral epidemic among children in the United States. It is a progressive disease that is not only preventable, but also manageable. For this reason, it is necessary to understand the link between dental caries and low socioeconomic class. As health practitioners, it is imperative to understand a disease that is largely determined by lifestyle choices that parents make on behalf of their children. (Wigen, 2014)
Keywords: Childhood Caries, Low Income …show more content…
(Kagihara, 2009) Research has shown that early childhood caries is rampant among the minority population and the low economic class in the United States. According to statistics from the US Head Start program, ninety percent of children ages three to 5 years suffer from dental decay. (CNW Group, 2015) Early childhood caries represent the most common health conditions impacting young children, especially in the low socioeconomic class. (Beil, 2014)
There is a staggering estimate of seventeen million children in the United States without adequate dental care. The number of children that are uninsured contribute to thirty percent of untreated tooth decay in children age’s two to five. (Rahbari, 2015) The socioeconomic status of the parents is “one of the strongest determinants of caries in children” due to nutrition, dental insurance, and lack of education. (Chi, 2014) Why should dental health professionals care about these low income …show more content…
(Masood, 2012) Another study found that early preventive care led to fewer future visits to the dentist and a decrease in dental expenses saving the family money over time. (Beil, 2014) Preventive visits to the dentist at a young age instills in caregivers the importance of properly taking care of primary teeth. (Rahbari, 2015) Prior caries in children are good indicators of future caries in permanent dentition. (Masood,
Keywords: Childhood Caries, Low Income …show more content…
(Kagihara, 2009) Research has shown that early childhood caries is rampant among the minority population and the low economic class in the United States. According to statistics from the US Head Start program, ninety percent of children ages three to 5 years suffer from dental decay. (CNW Group, 2015) Early childhood caries represent the most common health conditions impacting young children, especially in the low socioeconomic class. (Beil, 2014)
There is a staggering estimate of seventeen million children in the United States without adequate dental care. The number of children that are uninsured contribute to thirty percent of untreated tooth decay in children age’s two to five. (Rahbari, 2015) The socioeconomic status of the parents is “one of the strongest determinants of caries in children” due to nutrition, dental insurance, and lack of education. (Chi, 2014) Why should dental health professionals care about these low income …show more content…
(Masood, 2012) Another study found that early preventive care led to fewer future visits to the dentist and a decrease in dental expenses saving the family money over time. (Beil, 2014) Preventive visits to the dentist at a young age instills in caregivers the importance of properly taking care of primary teeth. (Rahbari, 2015) Prior caries in children are good indicators of future caries in permanent dentition. (Masood,