If you feel comfortable with the idea, they can start brushing their own teeth a few years before that, but be sure you supervise and help them get the hard-to-reach areas in the back. (Young children tend not to clean all their tooth surfaces well, don’t spend enough time brushing and often don’t remember that a tiny pea-size dollop of toothpaste is all they need.)

Before putting your kids in charge, however, ask their dentist or hygienist to show them the proper brushing technique. Also place a timer near the sink. Children usually spend less than a minute brushing, but it takes two to three to thoroughly clean the mouth. A timer gives kids something to look at, encouraging them to spend more time on their teeth and gums.

CHICAGO, Feb. 23, 2010—”We welcome the Pew organization to our longstanding fight to improve the lives of American children by helping more of them enjoy the good oral health that too many of them now lack. Pew’s presenting its information in the form of a report card makes it easy for anyone to understand that too many kids in too many states are suffering. And we face huge challenges in changing that.

“Even in states to which Pew awarded an A, countless children lack access to dental care and suffer as a consequence. These children are just like your children. Except these children can’t eat or sleep properly, can’t pay attention in school, can’t even smile, because of untreated dental disease.

“We don’t agree with everything in the report. But certainly, it highlights some of the major policy areas that the American Dental Association and state dental societies have advocated for years—things like increased Medicaid funding, school sealant programs and community water fluoridation. It also highlights the urgent need for reliable routine data collection so that policies are well-informed and kids are not left suffering.

“The report does omit some policy areas that we believe are equally important to improving children’s access to care. For instance, some states have innovative programs—like student loan forgiveness and tax incentives—to help dentists establish practices in underserved areas or practice in community health centers. And when it comes to fixing Medicaid, money is a huge issue, but it isn’t the only issue. Patients and parents need oral health education to help them take care of themselves and their families to prevent disease. Many of them need additional services, like transportation, in order to be able to get to dental appointments. If Medicaid did a better job of these things, treatment costs would decrease, because we would be preventing more disease and treating less.

“The ADA and state dental societies have a long history as the nation’s leading advocates for oral health. ADA members donated some $2.16 billion in free care to disadvantaged children and adults, both as individuals and through such programs as Give Kids A Smile and Missions of Mercy, in 2007 alone. But we’re the first to admit that we can’t do this alone, and charity is no substitute for an effective, equitable oral health delivery system. We’re grateful for assistance from the Pew Center and others who are willing to lend a hand in what undoubtedly will remain a long, tough fight.”

At the various sites, GKAS dental volunteers will provide educational materials, screenings and, where possible, free dental care such as cleanings, X-rays and fillings.

“Although many children will benefit from the services provided through Give Kids A Smile, our concern is for the countless others who continue to suffer from untreated dental disease,” said Dr. Tankersley. “We will continue to advocate for a larger and lasting way, through public policy, to ensure that kids who have been falling through the cracks in our delivery system receive the attention they need.”

Despite everything we know about importance of oral health to overall health, people’s self-esteem and to their employability, state and federal policies continually sell dental care short.

•  Most states spend two percent or less of their Medicaid budgets on dental services.
•  Only 16 states offered substantive coverage for adult Medicaid enrollees in 2007.
•  An estimated 164 million work hours are lost each year due to oral disease.

The American Dental Association is committed to improving the nation’s oral health through public education and through legislative advocacy to strengthen funding for dental services provided through public health programs.
Together, we can work to improve America’s oral health and give all of us something to smile about.

SPECIALITY

Dental Public Health

DESCRIPTION

Preventing and controlling dental disease through organized community efforts

EDUC & TRAINING TIME

5–6 years**

Endodontics

Diagnosing, preventing and treating diseases and injuries of dental pulp and surrounding tissues; performing root canals

6 years

Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology

Research, identification and diagnosis of diseases of mouth, teeth and surrounding regions

7 years

Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology

Diagnosing and managing oral diseases and disorders using x-rays, other forms of imaging

6 years

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Diagnosing and surgically treating disease and injuries of mouth, oral and maxillofacial region

8–10

years***

Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics

Diagnosing, intercepting and correcting dental and facial irregularities

6 years

Pediatric Dentistry

Diagnosing and treating the oral health care needs of infants and children through adolescence

6 years

Periodontics

Diagnosing and treating diseases of gum tissue and bones supporting teeth

6 years,

6 months

Prosthodontics

Restoring natural teeth or replacing missing teeth or oral structures with artificial devices, such as dentures

7 years

Advanced Education in General Dentistry provides emergency and multidisciplinary comprehensive care in multiple environments and care for patients with special needs (5–6 years program)

Advanced General Dentistry Education Programs in Dental Anesthesiology delivers pain control services for emergency and comprehensive, multidisciplinary care in hospitals, dental offices and surgery centers (6 yr. program)

Advanced General Dentistry Education Programs in Oral Medicine Act as primary care providers for patients with chronic, medically-related conditions of the oral and maxillofacial region (6 yr program)

Advanced General Dentistry Education Programs in Orofacial Pain Provide interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary health care to patients with orofacial pain (6 yr. program)

General Practice Residency Emphasis on care of patients with complex health conditions or special needs, hospital dentistry and coordination with other health providers (5–6 years program)

The American Dental Association recommends that dental visits begin no later than a child’s first birthday to establish a “dental home.” Dentists can provide guidance to children and parents, deliver preventive oral health services, and diagnose and treat dental disease in its earliest stages. This ongoing dental care will help both children and adults maintain optimal oral health throughout their lifetimes.
As doctors of oral health, dentists must be able to diagnose and treat a range of conditions and know how to deal with complications—SOME OF WHICH CAN BE POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING!