California lagging behind in dental provision for children
The latest figures have revealed that dental health amongst children in California is amongst the worst in the country.
The most recent research, which was carried out in 2007, showed that California lags behind with only Texas and Arizona further down in the ratings. The figures showed that by the age of 5, 28 percent of children in California had decay, which was not being treated. In addition, more than 500,000 children in the state missed a day of school due to dental health problems; it is estimated that this cost school districts nearly 30 million dollars.
The extent of dental health problems in California is shocking; in 2007, almost 2,000 children visited the emergency room as a direct result of oral health problems, with many forced to have treatment under anaesthetic in hospital. Perhaps the most shocking thing about this figure is that these problems are completely preventable.
Dr Jared Fine, from the Alameda County Public Health Department, said the preventable diseases such as tooth decay and gum disease had reached epidemic proportions amongst young children. Dr Fine said funding for preventative treatments and educational initiatives needed to be increased in order to improve oral health amongst children in California. Many parents struggle to afford dental care for their children, with costs rising every year and economic turbulence causing uncertainty and difficulties.
Budget cuts have hit dental services hard and an increasing number of people are now facing rising dental bills; recent cuts have included a 16.5 million dollar cut for the Healthy Families programme and a 500 million dollar cut for the Medi-Cal programme. These cuts will undoubtedly impact on low income families and it is likely that an increasing number of people will develop oral health conditions, which they will not be able to get treatment for because costs are too high.
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