The good news/ bad news of NC kids’ oral health

Written by Anne Bryce

State health officials issued a stark statement this month about the oral health of North Carolina children. 1 in 5 people Kindergarten children's cavities are not treated.

The rate is It was the best ever This is partly due to the fact that many dental clinics cut back on operations at the beginning of the pandemic. It's easy to see why, given the long-standing barriers to health care access that disadvantage children from low-income families and communities of color, Susan Kansagra, assistant secretary of public health at the state Department of Health and Human Services. . She is calling her to action.

“It is our responsibility to address these disparities and ensure that all children, regardless of their background, have access to quality dental care.” Kasangula said.

However, the news is not all gloomy.

students from UNC Adams School of Dentistry spent an entire day last week working to improve access to dental care for children up to the age of 17. Aspiring dentists planned and participated in the 10th annual event. Let's give children a smile day.

“Having a background in public health, I saw a dire need for dental care across the state,” said Niki Ranka, a third-year UNC School of Dentistry student who was involved in founding and providing care. “Many of the kids we meet here may be meeting for the first time.”

Giving smiles to children is national program The program was established in 2003 by the American Dental Association Foundation to provide free exams, fillings, caps, and other restorative care to underserved children.

Its roots are in St. Louis, where two dentists opened 15 dental chairs in a dental office that was about to be demolished and provided care to about 400 children.

“The ADA hopes that this grassroots effort will raise awareness of the importance of oral health to overall health and the incredible needs that exist among the millions of children living without care. We realized there was great potential to increase it nationally.” Foundation website. “So in 2003, Give Kids A Smile evolved into a national program dedicated to providing free oral health care to underserved children.”

Currently, approximately 6,500 dentists nationwide participate in the program, which provides care to more than 300,000 children each year.

At the Feb. 2 event in Chapel Hill, more than 50 UNC School of Dentistry faculty and staff met about 200 children from Orange, Durham and Wake counties. They provided nearly $40,000 for treatment.

“This is a great opportunity to reach out to the community,” said Miguel Simancas Parales of the school's Department of Pediatrics and Public Health. “We know we are surrounded by a huge number of people with unmet needs.”

Dentistry students spent five hours the day before the event decorating three floors of the school with colorful streamers, balloons, toys and art projects in keeping with the “Under the Sea” theme.

“My favorite day”

Bree Smith, a third-year student who has participated in every Give Kids A Smile Day during her time in dental school, said she expects many children to come to the building's atrium after school in 2023. He said the student organizer noticed that he was deaf. We brush our teeth, brush our teeth, and gather around the screen where a Disney movie is playing.

The students had a space theme in 2023, but this year they tried a deep sea theme.

“I love how everyone is so excited to treat these kids,” Smith said.

There was an inflatable pool with small toys instead of water. A small fishing rod was placed above the pool and the children cast their plastic hooks to reel in special treats.

Artistically talented youngsters can choose from a variety of colorful crayons and markers to decorate handouts for children about proper eating and dental care.

The children were also given electric toothbrushes and Spider-Man toothbrushes.

Young children also received favors from a Carolina blue shark and a mascot in an inflatable costume who tried to convince anxious and suspicious spectators that hugs didn't lead to sharp bites. Rameses, UNC's mascot, also made an appearance.

Greyson, an empathetic and trained Golden Retriever, had a knack for knowing when to hold a child in the dental chair to ease the anxiety of exams, cleanings, and fillings.

Kanine Jukoski brought her children, Clara Graciano and Lucca Graciano, from Wake County to the Chapel Hill event after her daughter had a “bad experience” at another dental clinic. Ten-year-old Clara was all smiles after visiting her UNC dentist when her friend told Jucoski about “Give Kids A Smile Day.” The girl reported that she liked what they saw as well.

“This is nice,” she said they told her.

Third-grader Esther Lee said the event was a “unique” dental visit that could lead to more regular care for the children and perhaps the parents and caregivers who bring them. He said it was important. The goal is for them to return to dental school or find a provider near their home for regular cleanings and screenings.

When Lee was a child, he had to travel to another state to go to the dentist.

Her parents are Korean immigrants who trusted the care of a Korean-speaking uncle who lived in Atlanta, about a four-hour drive from Charlotte's home. Paying it forward through events like her “Give Kids A Smile Day” is uplifting for her.

“Today is my favorite day of the year,” Lee said.

Close coverage gaps

Dental students, faculty and state health officials said there is a need to improve access to care for children in low-income families.

North Carolina's Medicaid dental program covers a wide range of care, from cleanings, screenings, and other preventive services to fillings, tooth restorations, denture fittings, periodontal care, and some oral surgeries.

After years of resistance, the Republican-led General Assembly finally expanded Medicaid benefits to more low-income workers and created new access to oral health care for underserved children. Agreed to create points.

“The recent expansion of Medicaid has expanded access to oral health care for thousands of North Carolinians across the state,” Kansangra said.

But the big problem is that only about 45 percent of dentists in North Carolina accept Medicaid patients. However, many of these providers are not accepting new Medicaid recipients.

Dentists say Medicaid reimbursement rates for their treatments have remained unchanged for the past 15 years, contributing to the access problem. A task force and other oral health advocacy groups are studying the issue and may offer recommendations for changes later this year.

Meanwhile, oral health care providers continue to emphasize the importance of classifying dental and periodontal services as critical.

“Good oral health in childhood is an important component of overall health and well-being,” said Kelly Kimple, senior medical director for health promotion in the NCDHHS Division of Public Health. stated in a statement February has been announced as National Pediatric Dental Health Month. “By supporting good dental care for young children, we can prevent long-term effects and help them lead healthier lifestyles in the future.”