RALEIGH -- Most of the candy is gone and the costumes have been put away. Halloween is over, but the spotlight on the oral health status of North Carolina children must not fade.
Good oral health forms the foundation of children's overall health and well-being. It affects how they look, feel, learn and behave. Improving the oral health of children in North Carolina does not have to be "tricky" - most dental decay is preventable when children have access to protective measures, such as regular screenings and fluoride treatments. Regrettably, data indicate dental care continues to be an unmet need for many children.
Dental decay is the most common chronic diseases of childhood, more common than asthma or obesity. In North Carolina, 63 percent of children begin their school career in poor oral health. That means in the average kindergarten classroom about 13 children suffer from decayed, filled or missing primary teeth. But this number represents an average; when we dig deeper into the data, stark geographic disparities emerge which suggest some communities lack access the resources needed to protect their children's oral health.
Poor oral health undermines children's readiness to learn and jeopardizes their future success. Children struggling with dental decay experience significant pain that limits their ability to eat, sleep and pay attention in class. They are more likely to miss school as a result of their dental problems, resulting in lost learning time and lost opportunities.
Dental decay doesn't just hinder children's educational progress; it undermines our ability to create the capable, healthy workforce businesses need to thrive; ultimately, costing the state millions in increased health care costs and diminished productivity. Children with untreated dental decay face greater risk of debilitating medical conditions later in life including health disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes. These serious, chronic illnesses are more likely to send workers rushing to the emergency room, keeping them out of work.
North Carolina has strategies to address this widespread problem that can help protect the health of our children and keep our economy moving. Families receiving health coverage through N.C. Health Choice, the state Children's Health Insurance Program, have access to the routine checkups and preventive services. Additionally, according to the 2011 Child Health Report Card, more than half of all Medicaid-enrolled children accessed dental services last year.
Recent budget cuts to the oral health program and reductions in the Medicaid reimbursement rate threaten children's access to care. When payments to providers dip below sufficient levels, fewer providers are able to afford to serve children who receive Medicaid. The consequences are fewer screenings, treatments and preventive counseling visits for those children most in need.
With careful planning and appropriate investments, we can work to have happier, healthier children.
Laila A. Bell is director of research and data at Action for Children North Carolina.
