The Wednesday editorial asserting that “Dental care for all is essential, medically and morally,” is absolutely right. As a dentist, I frequently see children who are suffering needlessly from preventable dental disease. Dental disease can affect a child’s ability to eat, sleep and learn and is connected to other serious health problems.
Dental disease is especially prevalent among low-income children in Washington. That is why the state must continue to fund Medicaid programs dedicated to preventing dental disease. Each year millions of dollars are spent in Washington to treat dental disease. Much of this money can be saved through increased prevention and by ensuring that children have their teeth screened by a dentist or physician by age 1.
The Pew study praised our state for involving physicians in the delivery of preventive dental care to young children. This approach is cost-effective because children see a physician up to 11 times before they typically see a dentist. Providing early dental care is extremely important to protecting oral health.
Dental problems often start small, but can expand quickly and become painful. They are also expensive to treat. Too many children end up in costly operating rooms to get care for dental problems that could have been avoided. Preventing dental disease saves money for families, businesses and taxpayers. Plus, it is the right thing to do.
If we care about children’s health, we must make dental disease prevention a priority. Good oral health is a necessity, not a luxury that can be taken away.
Eve Rutherford, DDS
Snohomish
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