Dental health study conducted in Wyoming
The first study into dental health in Wyoming in twenty years has been conducted by the State Health Department.
The study, which was funded by the state, was released on Tuesday and found that the majority of children do not have access to fluoridated water. Fluoride is added to the water supply in many countries across the world, as it has been proven to improve oral health. Fluoride helps to strengthen the protective enamel surfaces of the teeth, making them stronger and more resistant to harmful bacteria, which cause decay. The survey found that 76 percent of elementary schools in the state did not have the recommended concentration of fluoride in the water; children from the schools with the lowest levels were also found to have the worst standards of oral health.
The study also revealed that children who attended rural schools were more likely to suffer from dental health problems; dental experts associate poor standards of oral health in rural areas with a lack of dentists in remote towns. Children in rural areas are less likely to attend regular dental check-ups because there is a widespread lack of dentists in more remote areas.
The findings of the study also indicated that almost a third of children in the third grade had untreated tooth decay. Pregnant women were also not visiting their dentist on a regular basis and were at risk of oral health problems, which could contribute to complications during pregnancy and childbirth.
The revelations from the study will be used to address issues in the state; it has been recommended that access to fluoridated water supplies should be improved and dentists are keen to promote good oral health amongst children and pregnant women.
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