Dental and Oral Health

(left) Headdress in the Form of a Human Head (Agringa), Africa, Nigeria,
Idoma, Otobi area, early 20th Century, © The Cleveland Museum of Art,
James Albert and Mary Gardiner Ford Memorial Fund 1964.444;
(right) Face Pendant, Africa, Ivory Coast, possibly Baule people, 1900s,
© The Cleveland Museum of Art, John L. Severance Fund 1954.602

Here's the good news - a government report released in August 2005 found that the oral health of Americans has significantly improved during the past decade. Two major reasons for this positive outcome are the increased use sealants (a thin, plastic coating applied to the back teeth) and the continued use of community water fluoridation.

However, there is bad news as well - the report noted racial and economic disparities in oral health remain a concern. For example, 32% of Hispanic children and 27% of black children aged 2 to 11 years had untreated decay in their baby teeth, compared to 18% of white children. Also, among adults, 16% of those with higher incomes had untreated tooth decay, compared to more than 33% of lower-income adults.

Tooth decay and loss are can have a lasting detrimental impact on a child's health and well-being. Dr. Gerald Ferretti, the Chairman of the Pediatrics Dentistry Department at Case Western Reserve University states, "there's almost an epidemic problem of ECC (early childhood caries), the most common chronic disease of childhood, which is virtually 100% preventable."* Dental sealants and fluoride can help. In addition, all children need to have good dietary and oral hygiene practices and affordable access to dental care.

Sources: "New Report Finds Improvements in Oral Health of Americans," Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; *Art of Dentistry Newsletter, Case Western Reserve University, Fall 2005

Local and State Resources

• Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine
• Dental OPTIONS (A program that links people in need with dentists who have agreed to treat approved patients for reduced fees.)
• Dental and Oral Health - NetWellness
• Ohio Dental Association
• Oral Health from the Ohio Department of Health
• Download: Smile for a Lifetime of Good Oral Health from the Ohio Dental Association
• United Way's First Call for Help - Dental Care

National Resources

• American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
• American Dental Association
• American Dental Association's Statement on Early Childhood Caries
• Medline Plus - Dental Health
• Oral Health America
• Oral Health from the Centers for Disease Control
• Oral Health from Healthfinder
• SmileLine - Ask a Dentist a question from the Academy of General Dentistry (toll-free number)
• Your Guide to Dental Health from Web MD

Information for Kids

• For Kids - Staying Healthy
• The Truth about Teeth (Spanish Available)