Don't Fix What Ain't Broke

One of the major political and public health issues facing our country today is Children’s Health Insurance. There has been a big push to cover all children in the US. It would be huge if we could figure out how to provide adequate and equal access to health services for all American children.

In recent years, there’s been some forward progress. But I learned recently that some states, such as North Carolina, are looking to take a big step backward by cutting school-based dental programs for children.

According to the CDC (www.cdc.gov) and ADA (www.ada.org), findings from several scientific studies show that school-based sealant programs work. These programs reach children at high risk for tooth decay, especially those who don’t have access to private dental care. Why would a state see an effective program as expendable?

Here’s why states should NOT cut school-based dental services:

1. According to the CDC, tooth decay (dental disease) is the most common health problem for school-aged children.

2. According to the state oral health survey in North Carolina, 1 in 4 children entering kindergarten show obvious signs of tooth decay. In many states, the percentage of 3rd graders with untreated tooth decay is upwards of 44%!

3. Recent studies conducted by researchers at Harvard and the University of Puerto Rico found a link between periodontal disease and obesity. These findings also have implications for links between oral health and heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Therefore, we ought to think of school-based dental services as preventive health services that extend beyond the teeth.

I’m not an economist, I’m a health educator. Do I understand that states have budget shortfalls? Yes. Do I understand why a state would cut a program that is effective and is good for the health of its future workforce? No. In my opinion, the economic returns of keeping a program of this nature far outweigh the costs…