 As summer ends, school begins. Dental checkups are an important part of every school year. One in four children has a common chronic dental disease that's easily detectable, and easily treatable, if caught early.
An important reminder from the ADA:
American Dental Association, American Academy of Pediatrics Promote Back-to-School Health Check-Ups
Reminder to Complete Health Check- ups, Including Dental Exams and Immunizations
CHICAGO
(August 24, 2007)—The end of summer vacation signals the beginning of
school for the nation’s estimated 56 million elementary and high school
students.
In preparing for the new school year, the
American Dental Association (ADA) and the American Academy of
Pediatrics (AAP) remind parents and caregivers to include a dental
examination as part of their children’s routine back-to-school health
check-ups and immunizations.
Dental exams should not be overlooked, states Kimberly Harms, D.D.S., ADA consumer advisor and practicing Minnesota dentist.
“All children need and deserve to arrive on the first day of school
healthy and ready to learn,” says Dr. Harms. “Professional dental care
is important to maintaining good overall health.”
“Children
with untreated health and development problems may have trouble
concentrating and learning,” says Rani Gereige, M.D., MPH, FAAP, and
member of the AAP’s executive committee of the Council on School
Health. “When a child has serious tooth decay, it can affect overall
health and can lead to problems in eating, speaking and paying
attention in class, which is why it is important to include an oral
health assessment by a dentist as part of the routine back-to-school
health examination,” adds Dr. Gereige.
More than half
of all 5-to 9-year-old children have at least one cavity or filling.
Tooth decay is the result of an infectious disease for which there is
no immunization. Left untreated, it can have tragic effects. Sadly,
12-year-old Deamonte Driver, Prince George’s County, Md., died from a
severe brain infection associated with his deplorable degree of
untreated dental disease.
“Most parents don't realize
that tooth decay is largely preventable,” explains Dr. Harms. “It
remains the most common, chronic disease of children—four times more
common than asthma and a key cause of tooth loss in younger people.”
The
ADA and AAP’s back-to-school health awareness campaign is part of an
effort by both organizations, reminding parents to complete all the
health examinations and necessary immunizations for their children in
time for the new school year.
About the American Academy of Pediatrics
The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of
60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and
pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and
well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults. For more
information about the AAP, visit www.aap.org
About the American Dental Association
The not-for-profit ADA is the nation's largest dental association,
representing more than 155,000 dentist members. The premier source of
oral health information, the ADA has advocated for the public's health
and promoted the art and science of dentistry since 1859. The ADA's
state-of-the-art research facilities develop and test dental products
and materials that have advanced the practice of dentistry and made the
patient experience more positive. The ADA Seal of Acceptance long has
been a valuable and respected guide to consumer and professional
products. For more information about the ADA, visit the Association's
Web site at www.ada.org.
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