The results of the latest survey revealed that low-income families sacrifice the dental care of their children for other necessities like housing, transportation and food.
“There is an overwhelming need for dental care for economically-disadvantaged children across the country,” said Dr. Steven Adair, Chief Dental Officer of FORBA and one of the faculty members of the Medical College of Georgia. “The surgeon general has called tooth decay among low-income children a silent epidemic,” said Dr. Adair. “The financial hardship brought about by the recession is putting more children at risk for tooth decay and more serious, even life-threatening, health problems.”
“The results of this survey indicate an ongoing need for dental education in our communities, and a continued commitment of resources that help ensure the lifelong oral health of children in need,” said Burt Edelstein, chair and founder of Children’s Dental Health Project, which supports policies improving the access of children to oral health services.
The online poll was conducted last May 29–30 and surveyed 210 parents in households with yearly incomes of less than $35,000. The results showed that:
- Almost 44% of the parents have been compelled to choose between basic necessities and dental care of their children
- Around 16% stated that their children are uninsured and 40% of the families received health assistance such as CHIP and Medicaid from the government
- Approximately 86% said that they have hard time looking for dentists to treat their kids
“About 80 percent of the tooth decay found in American children is found in only 20 percent of children, and most of those kids come from low-income families,” said Dr. Adair. “Care for these children must remain a priority both for parents and communities.”
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