The Pediatrician in Community Dental Health

Abstract

Dental disease in children is one of the most common health problems encountered.1-3 Fifty percent of children have one or more carious teeth by the age of 2 years. Gingivitis occurs in a major portion of the child population and may lead to periodontal disease, the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. Cleft palate, with or without cleft lip, occurs once in every 700 births. Half of the school-age population has some form of malocclusion. So prevalent are these problems and so great is the backlog of dental neglect, that treatment of these defects is beyond the capabilities of the limited dental manpower we have in this country. In addition, treatment is time-consuming and expensive and the costs of dental services are constantly rising. It is obvious from these facts that dental disease cannot be controlled by treatment alone. It is only by preventing the occurrence of new disease, beginning with the child, that the problem of dental disease can be brought into a manageable form. Pediatricians are in a unique position to have a significant impact on the dental health of their patients and communities. Since the pediatrician gives care to the child from birth, he can detect any existing abnormality early in life and promptly refer or treat the problem. Control of dental disease can best be accomplished if preventive measures are started shortly after birth. It is interesting to note that few children are seen by the dentist at the recommended age of 2½ to 3 years.