Embarrassed by their appearance, they become increasingly isolated, withdrawn and miserable. To focus attention on these problems, the American Dental Association has designated February National Children's Dental Health Month. Despite continuing advances in dental care, increased access to services, federal programs for the disadvantaged, better practice of dental hygiene than ever before, and the widespread notion that we are conquering dental disease, pediatric dental reality remains alarmingly harsh. Almost a third of cavities in kids 6-8 have not been repaired, an increase compared to a decade earlier. To establish a good preventative care program and avoid disease, they need to see a dentist at least once a year.
Studies indicate that nowhere near that frequency is being achieved.
As might be expected, regular visits to the dentist occur less frequently in the economically underprivileged. Kids 6-10 fare little better. At eight years old, an adequate national average would be eight visits. Non-white children average .2 fewer visits over their first six years than white youngsters. Children whose parents have college educations averaged 4.2 visits over 18 years, or slightly more than one dental appointment every four years.