From the Desk of our Parish Nurse, Barbara O’ Connell

One of the largest unmet health needs in the United States is dental care for children.  Dental caries is the most common chronic disease of childhood.  Approximately 60% of U.S. children experience caries in their primary teeth by age 5, and by age 17, 78% of children have caries. 

Various barriers are preventing nearly 12 million U.S. children from receiving dental care.  Children from poor families face disproportionately high barriers to getting care.  80% of dental disease in children is concentrated in 25% of children.

Disparities in Access: Although the overall oral health of the nation has improved dramatically in the last 50 years, a segment of society has been left behind.  Minorities, immigrants, people with low incomes, people with special healthcare needs and people in rural areas have the greatest difficulty accessing care and maintaining good oral health.  Needs are particularly high among poor children: 20.7% of poor white children, 47.2% of poor Mexican-American children and 43.6% of non-Hispanic black children have untreated dental caries.  Among preschool children who are poor, nearly 30% have untreated cavities, compared to only 6% among children from families at 300% of the federal poverty level.  A recent federal survey of parents found that 53% of Latino children, 39% of black children and 23% of white children have only good, fair or poor oral health.

As much as 90% of all caries in school-aged children occurs in pits and fissures.  Untreated dental caries, periodontal diseases and other oral conditions can lead to pain, infection and loss of function.  These undesirable outcomes can adversely affect learning, communication, nutrition and other activities necessary for normal growth and development.

By Stacie Zais, RN, BSN, FNP-S

I will be taking a family leave of absence during the month of August but will return after Labor Day, on Sept. 6th. The St. Cronan community and the surrounding neighborhood community will be in my prayers.