Disparities In Dental Caries

The purpose of the case study is to outline the aetiology, pathology, progression and presentation of dental caries and periodontal disease. The patient chosen from the author has periodontal disease and is at high risk of caries.

The prevention of caries is accomplished through the execution of a variety of measures, such as the fluoridation of the drinking water supply as well as the utilization of sealants and topical fluorides (Mouradian, Wehr, and Crall 2625). Despite the ease of preventability of tooth decay, it is one of the most common childhood chronic diseases, with more than half of the nation’s children having detectable caries (Mouradian, Wehr, and Crall 2625). Unfortunately, only 62% of water supplies are fluoridated, and underserved communities with low-income and minority families are usually the ones who are disproportionately affected (Mouradian, Wehr, and Crall 2626). Low-income individuals are generally less likely to seek preventative care, increasing their costs of neglected oral diseases and morbidity factors (Mouradian, Wehr, and Crall 2626). In addition, only one in five children who are covered by Medicaid are authorized for preventative oral healthcare, while restorative care is generally not even a consideration (Mouradian, Wehr, and Crall 2625).

Because children are influenced by the family tradition and learn from their parents, it is important for parents to make sure that they are teaching proper oral care habits at a young age. The habits that children should learn at a young age are; keeping up with home dental care, receiving the dental care that people should, needing dental care but being enforced to go, brushing teeth as well as they should, being taught on how to control snacking between meals as well as they should, and being taught that dental care is indeed important. " Poor oral health has an impact upon children's health in general and dental caries can lead to a lack of appetite, problems with chewing, problems with sleeping and a decrease in school performance" (Abanto et al, 2011). Proper health education is somewhat

Over 130 million Americans do not have dental insurance. On top of that, almost a million emergency room visits last year resulted from preventable oral conditions. Many Americans today are unaware of how the condition of their dentition affects their overall health. Socioeconomic limitations, the lack of dental education in parents, eating habits, and simply the availability of dentists plays a key role in the state of children’s oral health; implementing a universal dental care program will help lower the barriers that many people face when it comes to receiving the dental care they need. The program will target high-risk individuals who are prone to dental caries and provide them with standard

Over 130 million Americans do not have dental insurance. On top of that, almost a million emergency room visits last year resulted from preventable oral conditions. Many Americans today are unaware of how the condition of their dentition affects their overall health. Socioeconomic limitations, the lack of dental education in parents, eating habits, and simply the availability of dentists plays a key role in the state of children’s oral health; implementing a universal dental care program will help lower the barriers that many people face when it comes to receiving the dental care they need. The program will target high-risk individuals who are prone to dental caries and provide them with standard treatment.

Avoid sodas and caffeine because the sugar may worsen your condition and cause tooth erosion.

Seven-year-old Carlos Smith came to Universal Pediatric Dental Clinic for his first dental appointment. During his dental visit his hygienist learned he has a sweet tooth and rather drink juice/soda than water and never turn down candy. He is a big chocolate fan, of course the gummy stuff, the Mike, cheerios and Ikes. His hygienist already see two area of caries on his primary teeth. Dr. Jonathan CalBrim, suggested dental sealants, which could help keep tooth decay at Carlos’ permanent molar as well as other teeth. His parents had no idea about caries as well as sealant. His parents have many questions and worried that information may not have been disclosed to public about sealant.

Oral disease is on of the most common health problems affecting children in the United States (Oral Health in America, 2000). Dental caries is the most prevalent dental disease in children which occurs more often in disadvantaged children than in others. Additionally, children with public insurance have great difficulty gaining access to primary oral care services (Kaye N, 1998; Oral health, 2000). A Report of the Surgeon General stated that minority and low-income children in the United States experience poorer oral health and poorer access to dental health care services than do their majority and higher-income peers (Oral Health in America, 2000). Each year, less than one in five children enrolled in Medicaid use preventive services (Kaye N, 1998; Oral health, 2000). Even if the public insured children get some access to preventive care, access to comprehensive dental care is much more less (Oral Health in America, 2000).

Dental health is continuing to play a substantial role in the overall health for both adults and children. Dental health may affect several domains of child development and growth69. Good child dental health is essential for developing several physical and social functions such as feeding, breathing, speaking, smiling, and social adaptation. In the other hand, dental diseases can impact the children in many ways which may include pain, discomfort, embarrassment, challenged cognitive development, reduced self-esteem, and impairments of daily life activities70. In order to create a healthy future for Australian school children, we need to understand the epidemiology of child oral health and oral health behaviors 71. Establishing good oral health behaviors and attitudes at early age can create an opportunities to minimize the oral disease burden in the future 72, which may reduce the overwhelming cost of treating oral diseases that has been accounting for around 6.5% ($5.3 billion) of total health care expenditure 73. In addition, a good oral health has not being a privilege for all Australian school children; obvious differences exist across each state and territory 72. Such differences can be related to socio-economic disadvantage, residence in geographical locations that have restricted access to health and other services, and Indigenous or non-English

According to the World Health Organization, “Worldwide, 60-90% of school children and nearly 100% of adults have dental cavities.”

The method from Health Education Journal was based on collecting and evaluating evidence, “…using a combined approach incorporating the Cochrane Public Health and Health Promotion Field Handbook and the Health Gains Notation in order to a develop a synthesis approach to reporting,” (Satur et al., 2010). However, Community Dental Health utilized electronic searching, iterative-hand searching, critical appraisal and data synthesis in which the primary research reviewed settings were at clinical, community, schools or other institutions in which children, elderly, people with handicaps and disabilities were the participants. Another difference in both articles is the conclusions. Community Dental Health concluded that the use of fluoride is efficient in reducing caries through oral health promotion, chairside oral health promotion is shown to be effective; however mass media programs have not. On the other hand, the article from Health Education Journal states that even though there is a respectable support in incorporating the oral health into the general health promotion, it is vital to observe the outcomes in oral health terms.

There are some established uses for xylitol; diabetics utilize it to reduce the amount of insulin needed to maintain normal blood levels of glucose, doctors make use of xylitol with their patients who are critically burned and current research indicates that xylitol use decreases the amount of middle ear infections that some children can suffer from.1 Many are familiar with xylitol as a low calorie and sugar free replacement.1 This literature review will focus on early childhood caries (ECC) and a possible prevention strategy mothers can cultivate with the use of xylitol.

As a result, my patient's diet has not yet changed for the better. Since our first session together he seemed very motivated to make better decisions when it comes to his diet. My patient did not benefit much from nutritional counseling. I suggested to my patient that he should keep at the diet changes day by day to eventually eliminate many factors that cause dental caries. But one change that my patient did make is to

Although considered preventable, 53.6% of Medicaid eligible kindergarteners studied in California had a history of dental caries and 27.8 % had decay present at the time of the screening (Dental Health Foundation, 2006). Teaching young children effective oral hygiene techniques is the most effective way to protect the child’s teeth and help them to develop a daily oral wellness routine ("Dental Health," 2015). By focusing on those most in need, Medicaid eligible preschool aged children, teaching and reinforcing effective oral hygiene strategies early in life will foster a lifelong habit of oral health wellness (Gardner, Lally, & Wardle, 2012).

The purpose of this paper is to provide evidence that the consumption of fast food has a detrimental effect on the quality of society’s overall dental health. With the growth of the fast food industry over the last sixty years, Americans and global citizens have altered their eating habits by consuming a higher level of processed foods with additives and preservatives. The typical diet is comprised of foods high in refined sugars and fermentable carbohydrates instead of natural foods such as fruits, vegetables and nuts. The fast food industry promotes convenience and consumption of soft drinks and snacks in between meals. The continuous sugar intake during the day promotes increased levels of bacteria producing acid which attacks the enamel of teeth. Biological mechanisms to clear the acid, such as saliva cannot prevent the ultimately increased risk of tooth decay against this increased sugar intake. As a result, the role of a dental hygienist is promoting dental hygiene awareness and a proper oral care routine must also incorporate a conversation about healthy daily eating habits.