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<br /> (�_(� (� children at highest risk.
<br /> �C.— aGX�G The F(filled)component of the DMFS scores of non
<br /> Or, There Still are Many Children in white children is smaller than in white children for
<br /> Need of Dental Care every age cohort over seven years of age.
<br /> Guest Editorial More than 45 percent of black children and 39 percent
<br /> By H. Barry Waldman, B.A., D.D.S., M.Ph., Ph.D. of Hispanic children(compared to 15 percent of white
<br /> children) live in poverty. Despite a greater need for
<br /> • It's only natural to be proud of the successful comple- dental services,six million poor children have not seen
<br /> tion of some difficult task. We celebrate these events in books, a dentist in the past two years."
<br /> newspapers, even in professional journals. The successful ef- Black,and in particular, Hispanic children are less
<br /> fort to reduce pediatric dental pries is an example of a highly likely than white children to visit a dentist,even when
<br /> successful media event which has been reported ad nauseam in there are no socioeconomic differences between these
<br /> every conceivable lay and professional publication. groups. The frequently herd"no need"explanation
<br /> for not visiting a dentist suggests the necessity for an
<br /> Accomplishments intensive education program which would identify the
<br /> Many children begin school Erse of dries and an esti-
<br /> need for routine and preventive services!
<br /> mated 16 percent will graduate from high school without hav- While no national studies have been conducted to
<br /> ing had a cavity. determine the prevalence of dental disease among
<br /> 4 Approximately 70 percent of school various special population groups(e.g.the develop-
<br /> mentally disabled)local and regional studies
<br /> age children have visited a dentist in the past indicate higher DMF rates among increasing
<br /> year. numbers of children receiving special educa-
<br /> More than 60 percent of children use If we are to provide for lion and related services(almost 11 percent of
<br /> drinking water that is optimally fluoridated the total number of children enrolled in pre-
<br /> another 10 to 15 percent use fluoride rinses the needs of the school through the 12th grade).'
<br /> or supplemental fluorides. underserved members Of
<br /> 4 More than 90 percent of children our communities, we The economics of quality
<br /> brush with a dentifrice containing flouride.t must emphasize these The quality of care in a community is inexo-
<br /> continuin roblems to rably bound up with the funding for services. If
<br /> On the quality of care in your gp we are to provide for the needs of the underserved
<br /> community... the public and our legis- members of our communities,we must empha-
<br /> It's only natural to be proud of the lative representatives— size the continuing problems to the public and
<br /> extra effort we put into the pre we provide not just write about our our legislative representatives—not just write
<br /> each of our patients. The quality of pre for' about our accomplishments. Or are you so se-
<br /> the individual patient(Q for each individual) accomplishments. cure in the economics of your practice that you
<br /> is essential. But so,too,is the quantity of that can afford not to be bothered and continue to
<br /> care in our community(Q for quantity ofcare). provide care to just"usual"patients?
<br /> In determining the quality of tare in a com-
<br /> munity(Q for community pre),we must take note of the extent H. Barry Waldman is professor and chairman of the Depart-
<br /> of pre available for all residents in our communities,as well as ment of Dental Health, School of Dental Medicine,State Uni-
<br /> the quality of pre received by individuals. versity of New York at Stony Brook Stony Brook, N.Y.
<br /> The dental profession in general and pediatric den-
<br /> tists in particular have made significant strides in the care of References
<br /> youngsters in our communities. However,theft is a long way I Nowak,AJ.,Waldman,11.9.,Johnson,D.,McTique,D.J.,
<br /> to go before we can claim we are providing services for all young- cir Health Policy P. Pediatric Oft Health Washington.D.C.,center
<br /> far Health Polity Research of George Washington University,1993.
<br /> sters. 2 Brunelle J.A,Carlos,J.P. Recent trends in dental cries in U.S.
<br /> The latest national data indicates: children and the effect of water fluoridation.69(Spec Iss):72.3-727,
<br /> • One half of children are not caries tree. J Derr Res,1990'
<br /> 3 tanait.A.L.Szpunar,S.M. The prevalence of total loss dental
<br /> Twenty-five percent of children have 60 percent of erica,and periodontal d"cease in Mexican Anmicu%Cuban
<br /> dental decoy. American and Puerto Ricans:fntding from IIIIANES 1982-1984.
<br /> • The mean DMFS rates for children's permanent teeth U.S. pplcrrmem 1183-1 ncr S 1 Pub Health 1990.
<br /> jX 4 U.S.Department of Commerce.Statistical Abstract oCthe United
<br /> progressively increase for each age cohort reaching States,1991.Washington.D.C.,Government Printing Office,1991.
<br /> 8.06 for 17 years olds. S U.S.Deparunenl of Health and Flutnsn Service. Health Status of
<br /> Minorities and l.ow Income Groups.DHHS Pub.No.(LIRA)HRS
<br /> • More than 50 percent of U.S.adolescents have .P-DV a3-1. Washington,D.C..Governmrnt Printing Office,1985.
<br /> periodontal diseases. 6 GiIL S..Newman,J.F.Oral health activities of U.S.children:result of
<br /> • Prevalence of nursing caries ranges as high as 58 a national health interview survey.123:96-106,I Amer Dent Assoc,
<br /> percent in preschool children with Native Ameriain 1992
<br /> Southern Smiles Communicator, Vol. I No. 1,page 21
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