Parents Advised To Provide Early Care For Children’s Baby Teeth.

The Urbana/Champaign (IL) News-Gazette (8/19) recommends children start receiving dental care very early, stating that many parents may not realize how important it is to care for baby teeth. According to the article, dentists recommend children visit the dentist when their first tooth appears, and no later than their first birthday, adding that one Illinois dentist said this helps establish a positive relationship between the child and the dentist. Caring for baby teeth is important because the teeth not only help children chew, but also help form a path for permanent teeth to follow, according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. In addition, the article reports that the American Dental Association advises parents to schedule a morning visit for their child and avoid using dental visits as a reward or punishment.

Tennessee Department Of Health: Fluoridated Community Water Is Improving Dental Health.

In a statement carried by Clarksville (TN) Online (8/4), the Tennessee Department of Health discusses how Tennesseans have benefited from fluoridated community water, saying, “Comparisons of dental health before and after fluoridation in Tennessee showed a 75 percent decline in decay of children’s permanent teeth from the early 1950s to the late 1980s.” According to the statement, community water fluoridation costs “approximately 50 cents per person, per year,” a fraction of what it costs to repair one cavity.

Employers Encouraged To Evaluate Dental Coverage Options.

With more people seeking benefits packages that include dental coverage,BenefitsPro (8/4) discusses items employers should know and evaluate concerning dental coverage, such as being aware that some medical plans on the ACA exchange may include dental benefits for children, although the medical plans do not all cover children’s benefits equally, while standalone dental carriers can provide adult dental coverage. According to the article, “Dental coverage encourages regular preventive dental check-ups, which not only helps protect dental health but also can detect as many as 120 different diseases in their earliest stages, when they are most effectively treated.”

Dental Treatment With Local Anesthetics Is Safe For Pregnant Women.

HealthNewsDigest (8/4) reports that a new study published in the August issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association suggests that dental treatment with local anesthetics is not harmful for pregnant women. Study author Dr. Aharon Hagai said, “Our study identified no evidence to show that dental treatment with anesthetics is harmful during pregnancy, and yet so many pregnant women avoid going to the dentist.” Dr. Hagai added, “Dentists and physicians should encourage pregnant women to maintain their oral health by continuing to receive routine dental care and seeking treatment when problems arise.”