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<br /> (�=(� (� children at highest risk.
<br /> �G ?GX}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 caries 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 /> need for routine and preventive services.'
<br /> Many children begin school free of aria and an esti- while no national studies have been conducted to
<br /> mated 16 percent will graduate from high school without hav-
<br /> ing had a cavity. determine the prevalence of dental disease among
<br /> various special population groups(e.g the develop-
<br /> Approximately 70 percent of school 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 childrt n 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. musf 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 care we provide not just write about our our legislative representatives—not just write
<br /> each of our patients. The quality of care 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 care in a com-
<br /> munity(Q for community care),we must take note of the extent H. Barry Waldman is professor and chairman of the Depart-
<br /> of care available for all residents in our communities,as well as ment of Dental Health, School of Dental Medicine,State Uni-
<br /> the quality of care 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, there is a long way t Nowak,A.J.,Waldman,II.B..Johnson.D.,McTcque,D.I.
<br /> Center
<br /> casania=imo,
<br /> to go before we can claim we are providing services for a!Iyoung- P Pediatric Oral Health. Washington,D.C.,
<br /> for Health Policy Research of George Washington University.1993.
<br /> sters. 2 Brunelle,J.A.,Carlos,I.P. Recent trends in dental caries in U.S.
<br /> The latest national data indicates: children and the effect of water fluoridation.69(Spec Iss):723-727,
<br /> One half of children are not caries tree. J Dent Res,1990'
<br /> 3 Ismail.A.L,Szpunar,S.&L The prevalence oftotal loss,dental
<br /> Twenty-Five percent of children'have 60 percent of caries,and periodontal disease in Madcan AmcricM%Cuban
<br /> dental delay. American and Puerto Ricans:futding from 1111ANFES 1982-1984.
<br /> • The mean DMFS rates for children's permanent teeth 8 U.S-D'partrni )' 1183-1196,om .S 1 Pub health,1990.
<br /> jX 4 .S_Department of Commerce.Statistical Abstract of the 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.Department of Health and Human Services flealth Status of
<br /> • Minorities and taw Income Groups.DHHS Pub.No.(11RA)HRS
<br /> More than 50 percent of U.S.adolescents have .P-DV 85-t. Washington,D.C.,Government Printing otrce,1985.
<br /> periodontal diseases. 6 Gil,S.,Newmam J.F.Oral health activities oru.s.children:result of
<br /> • Prevalence of nursing caries ranges as high as 58 a national health interview survey.123:96-106,J Amer Dent A=C,
<br /> •
<br /> percent in preschool children with Native Americtn 1992_
<br /> Southern Smiles Communicator, Vol. 1 No. 1,page 21
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