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Volume2 Issue4
clinician inmanyof theseareas andhave seen some
kindergartenclasseswherealmost all childrenhadno
upper front teeth. ThisquicklygotmyMP’s attention.
Asmentioned in thedocument, there’sbeenextensive
researchdone inManitoba inparticular,wherewe
have4hospitals treating someof thosechildren—at
veryhighcost of course. Data shows theyare6 times
more likely thanECC-free kids tobeanemic. They’re
alsodeficient invitaminA, vitaminDandmanymore
vitamins andnutrients.
Isprevention theanswer?
Unfortunately, I don’t think it’s somethingdentists can
reallyhelpwith.Wegenerallyonly see thosechildren
when they’vebeen identifiedby local nursing staffor
parents ashavingaproblem. Inorder tomove to the
preventivephase incommunitieswithhighnumbers
of ECC, thenursing staffand leadersof thecommunity
wouldbe theones to lookat the feedingpractisesof
thosechildrenand their families. After all, teethare
meant tobe thehardest structure in thebody. If teeth
canbedissolvedbeforeage2,wehave towonder
what’shappening, or not happening, in thehomes.
I thinkwe’reat apointwheredentists can say “We
haveobserved this, now it’s time for others toact.”
We’vebeengetting thechildrenout of pain, putting
stainless steel crownsby thehundreds.Withall the
new studieson this topic,wehave togobeyond the
crowns andposters inwaiting rooms showinghowbad
teethcanget.
What canCDAdoabout this issue?
CDAcouldhelpcollectingand sharingdataon those
children. Theoutcome for them, for exampleobesity
anddiabetes, is somethingManitobahas lookedat—
31%of themwill becomeobese. Theycan’t eat very
firm food, so they’reeatinga soft, high-carbohydrate
diet. The long-termhealth implicationsof ECCcanbe
significant.
CDA represents all Canadiandentists and is theobvious
advocate for thesechildrenwhomaybedamaged for
life. Asper itsmission statement, CDA is “dedicated
to thepromotionof optimal oral health, anessential
component of general health.”
a
Reference
1.Canadian Institute forHealth Information.
TreatmentofPreventableDentalCavities inPreschoolers:
AFocusonDaySurgeryUnderGeneralAnesthesia.
2013.
This interviewhasbeencondensedandedited.
Theviewsexpressedarethoseoftheauthoranddonotnecessarilyreflecttheopinionsorofficial
policiesoftheCanadianDentalAssociation.
