Contemporary Pediatrics - September 2008 - (Page 11)

Editorial Caries in primary teeth Julia A. McMillan, MD An epidemic that’s right under our noses Most of the articles published in This epidemic is partly a result of Contemporary Pediatrics fall into poor access to dental health services. one of three categories. Some are A survey of general dentists pubreview articles meant to remind and lished in 2003 concluded that, update readers about areas of pedithough over 90% of those surveyed atric health care most of us learned see children in their practices, few about at some point. Some describe care for children who are younger a new discovery, such as a genetic than 4 years of age, have high levels disorder or infectious disease. And of caries, or are covered by Medicaid.2 some provide advice and suggesWagner and Oskouian make it very Dr. McMillan, editor-in-chief of Contemporary Pediatrics, tions about delivery of health care. clear, however, that substantial is professor of pediatrics, “The ECC Epidemic” an article responsibility for the sorry state of vice chair for pediatric by Drs. Wagner and Oskouian in our children’s teeth lies with primary education, and director of the pediatric residency this month’s issue, is a different sort care providers, and with our relative training program, Johns of article. It is a call to action. The ignorance about this problem. Hopkins University School authors admonish all pediatric The teeth have always been there. of Medicine, Baltimore. health care providers to wake up to They frame the tongue we ask chila largely unrecognized epidemic that has been, litdren to stick out, and bite the tongue depressor we erally, right under our noses. How many times insert so that we can see more clearly. Some of us have we peered into the mouths of young children have mistakenly thought that primary teeth didn’t searching for erythema, exudate, ulcerations, and matter much, and that the time for dental care came malformations, without noticing signs of what only once permanent teeth had erupted. Wagner Wagner and Oskouian appropriately describe as and Oskouian provide a convincing argument that the most common chronic disease in childhood? identification of early childhood caries is an imporThere is plenty of evidence that children, espetant responsibility of all child health providers, and cially pre-school children, children with special that we have a considerable public relations task health care needs, and children who are poor, have ahead of us in helping parents to understand that been overlooked with regard to their dental health. primary teeth are important—even before they are The Agency for Health Care Research and Quality relinquished to the Tooth Fairy. of the Department of Health and Human Services has called dental care “the most prevalent unmet healthcare need for children” (http://www.ahrq.gov/chiri/chirident.htm). A report from the Surgeon General released in May 2000 References states that, despite improvements in nutrition and 1. United States Public Health Service’s Office of the Surgeon General’s National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research: Oral health in access to fluoridated water and dentifrice, caries in America: A report of the surgeon general. NIH publication 00-4713 2000;1 2. Seale NS, Casamassimo PS: Access to dental care for children in the the primary teeth of children have not decreased in United States: A survey of general practitioners. J Am Dent Assoc the past 10 years.1 2003;134:1630 SEPTEMBER 2008 PHOTO: KATHRYN MILLER CONTEMPORARY PEDIATRICS 11 http://www.ahrq.gov/chiri/chirident.htm

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Contemporary Pediatrics - September 2008

Contemporary Pediatrics - September 2008 Contents Editorial Your Voice Clinical Tip News Updates Eye on Washington Puzzler Dermatology: What’s your Dx? Behavior Cover Story: ECC Epidemic Parent Guides Discipline Techniques: The 12-Month-Old Exercise-induced Bronchospasm: Keeping Our Patients Active Food Safety Parent Guide CPR--Food Safety Malnutrition Links Surgeon General Links Hospice Links Childhood Cancer Links Rx for a Healthy Practice Rx for a Healthy Practice New Products Author Guidelines Journal Club Events Calendar Classifieds Index of Advertisers Postscript

Contemporary Pediatrics - September 2008

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