DTUS0610

By Ken Munkens and Kristin Kenyon Evolution of the toothfairy Remember when you were little and you lost a baby tooth? The tooth- fairy was very real to you then, an airy apparition who visited you over- night and left something wonderful under your pillow. Some people believe they’ve out- grown the toothfairy, that she has become obsolete. Not so fast: the toothfairy has evolved into someone we can all believe in. Today’s toothfairy has transi- tioned from simply rewarding chil- dren for their lost teeth to a very important role of helping children retain their permanent teeth, have beautiful smiles and enjoy healthier lives. This little mystical icon has become a dedicated champion in the fight against the No. 1 chronic child- hood illness in our country: pediatric dental disease. Now a revolutionary Superhero armed with a powerful message, she is not just any toothfairy; she is America’s toothfairy. For many years caring dental professionals, including pediatric dentists, dental hygienists and other health-care groups, have worked tirelessly to bring dental treatment and preventive therapies to under- served children. Despite their efforts, however, pediatric dental disease continues to increase in America, causing pain and suffering for millions of chil- dren. Dental disease affects us all Children with untreated dental dis- ease may find it difficult to eat, sleep and speak clearly, which affects their ability to concentrate in school, make friends and develop the social skills necessary to be successful adults. It is a progressive disease, and children’s suffering worsens as they get older. They can experi- ence chronic pain, and they can face gum disease, broken or lost teeth, abscesses, infections and even risk of death. Until recently there was little emphasis on the connection between the mouth and a person’s overall health. Studies are now widely avail- able that link tooth decay to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, pneumo- nia, poor pregnancy outcomes, sec- ondary infections and dementia. But that is only part of the inherent risk. There is also a logical progression associated with this disease. A child experiencing mouth pain may have difficulty eating a bal- anced diet with foods such as veg- etables and grains, which are notori- ously harder to chew. Additionally, a child suffering from pediatric dental disease is often not able to chew properly or long enough to promote good diges- tion, resulting in the loss of valuable nutrients. Malnutrition because of dental complications ultimately leads to poor growth development, weak- ened bones and muscles, allergies, inability to concentrate, emotional problems and other systemic health ailments not immediately recog- nized as being linked to tooth decay. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, more than 51 million school hours and 164 million hours of work are lost each year due to dental related absences. The number of Americans with- out dental insurance is almost three times the number of those lacking medical coverage, and uninsured Giving Back DENTAL TRIBUNE | March 201020A ADS g DT page 22A