The California Dental Association (CDA), a non-profit organization representing organized dentistry in California, reminds parents of the May 31st deadline of bringing their children to the dentist for a check-up, a requirement before a child is allowed to enter first grade this coming school year.
This requirement became effective two years ago with the aim of fostering good and healthy habits among children, considering that tooth decay is one of the most widespread childhood diseases. Paying an early visit to a dentist can help prevent costly treatment as well as absences during school days. Regular dental check-ups and proper oral health care habits are the most affordable and easiest ways to keep children healthy.
According to Andrew Soderstrom, DDS, pediatric dentist and CDA vice president, “Baby teeth are very important – they are not just teeth that will fall out. Children with cavities may have difficulty eating, stop smiling, and have problems paying attention and learning at school.”
“If cavities are not treated, children can become sick enough to require emergency room treatment and their adult teeth may be permanently damaged.”
Although this requirement has been in effect for two years now, tooth decay remains to be a common health problem for a number of children in California. By the time these children enter kindergarten, approximately half of them have suffered from dental decay; one-third have tooth decay that did not undergo treatment; and one out of five have serious tooth decay. And by the time they reach third grade, almost 70% of them have suffered from dental decay.
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