Student Dental Decay
Indicator: Children With a History of Dental Decay
35% of preschool children have had tooth decay
62% of 2nd and 3rd graders have had tooth decay (2007)
Why is this important?
The status of oral health in children shows much more than how often kids are brushing their teeth. It is an indicator of the inequalities in our community, because minorities, those with disabilities, and those living in poverty are much more likely to suffer from dental decay, along with other detrimental conditions. It is especially important because it corresponds with a child's readiness to learn, which can affect their entire future.
In itself, poor oral health is still harmful:
Oral health is important for the maintenance of good general health and quality of life. Oral health affects people both physically and psychologically …Oral diseases… are very common and have high socioeconomic costs…Washington children are significantly affected by tooth decay.1
Dental decay is a preventable disease, and yet it is also one of the most common childhood diseases.2 Like many preventable diseases, it does not occur randomly:
Oral health disparities in Washington persist among minority, low-income, and non-English speaking children; and special populations such as children with special health care needs, individuals with HIV/AIDS, seniors, and Native Americans. These individuals tend to have the highest levels of dental disease and the lowest levels of access to preventative and restorative services.3
Also, as "the economic impact of oral disease can be substantial,"4 dental decay corresponds with poverty levels as well. Both poor health care and poverty are important indicators in a child's readiness to learn in school. Impoverished children are less prepared because they "not only live in economic poverty but also live in environments deprived in ways beyond the lack of economic resources. These children do not have the early experiences that we take for granted as prerequisites for normal school…(such as) physical well-being, approach to learning (curiosity), social and emotional development, use of language, cognition, and general knowledge…because they lack these critical early childhood experiences, the chances of them being successful in school are remote."5
Children living in low-income households are at increased risk for poor health. Factors contributing to this disparity include less access to timely medical care and increased risks of accidents and illnesses. These same children also exhibit disproportionately poor developmental outcomes, possibly because of a lack of opportunity for stimulating interactions and experiences in their homes, such as reading, playing, having a daily schedule, and eating meals with the family. Since such risk factors are linked to poverty and early life experiences, there is much overlap of children's health and developmental morbidity.6
Furthermore, the Early Childcare Research Network has found that child development during the early years is extremely important to the child's future well-being and lifelong development,7 and so "the cycle of poverty continues."8
Therefore, the trends showing that lower-income and minority Spokane children have disproportionately more dental decay shows much more than a simple question of teeth brushing. It is a glimpse into a cycle of chronic poverty which coincides with physical health and school readiness. In order to have a healthy, sustainable community, these issues need to be addressed.
What will be measured and how?
This will show the percent of preschool age and 2nd and 3rd graders who have had untreated dental decay, as well as those who have had treated dental decay. The Washington State Department of Health will conduct a Smile Survey every 5 years, the next one to be conducted during the 2009-2010 school year, which will determine how many preschool-age and 2nd and 3rd graders have had a treated and untreated dental decay.9
Where are we now?
Dental decay has increased in the past years in Washington State, as well as in Spokane. For preschool age children, 35% have experienced tooth decay, and 11% have experienced untreated tooth decay. For 2nd and 3rd graders, 62% have experienced tooth decay, and 15% have experienced untreated tooth decay. Furthermore, only 4% of Spokane's community water is fluorinated, which is a large contributor to tooth decay.10
Figure 1. Children's Oral Health Indicators. 11
1.) "The Impact of Oral Disease on the Lives of Washingtonians-The Washington State Oral Disease Burden Document" WA DOH July 2007
2.) "Kasserian Ingera: A Summary of Selected Youth Indicators" Spokane Regional Health District, Spokane, WA, 2009. Pg 9.
3.) "The Impact of Oral Disease on the Lives of Washingtonians-The Washington State Oral Disease Burden Document" July 2007
4.) IBID
5.)Wright, Diener, and Kay. "School Readiness of Low Income Children at risk for School Failure" Journal of Children and Poverty 200 6(2) 99-117. Pg 2-3.
6.) Schor, Abrams, and Shea. "Medicaid: Health Promotion and Disease Prevention for School Readiness" School and Society 2007 Project HOPE The People-to-People Health Foundation, Inc, March/April 2007 Pg 2.
7.) Prince, Pepper, and Brocato. "The Importance of Making the Well-Being of Children in Poverty a Priority". Early Childhood Education JournalVol 34, No. 1, August 2006. Pg 1.
8.) Wright, Diener, and Kay. "School Readiness of Low Income Children at risk for School Failure" Journal of Children and Poverty 200 6(2) 99-117. Pg 1-2.
9.) "2005 Smile Survey Results Summary" Washington State DOH Office of Maternal and Child Health ORAL HEALTH PROGRAM.
10.) "Spokane County Oral Health Profile 2006" from 2007 Department of Health Oral Disease Burden Document-The Impact of Oral Disease on the Lives of Washingtonians.
11.) IBID
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