Improving the oral health of Arizona's youngest citizens: Statewide analysis of regional implementation

Tooth decay is the most common chronic infectious disease of childhood. Moreover, low income and minority children have more untreated decay and visit the dentist less frequently. In Arizona, poor or no dental care and high incidence of tooth decay begins at early ages. A study of children's oral health (Arizona Department of Health Services, 2003) found that half of kindergarteners had decay experience; one-third had untreated decay; and almost one-tenth needed urgent dental treatment. Compared to 1.4 affected teeth in children nationwide, Arizona children have a three times higher average: five teeth affected by cavities. In addition, research links poor oral health of expectant mothers with prematurity/low birth weight and babies that present with “failure-to-thrive” (Arizona Department of Health Services, 2003). Thus, supporting oral health is crucial from the child's earliest years. First Things First (FTF), the Arizona Early Childhood Development and Health Board, coordinates community based funding for Oral Health Strategies that target children birth to five years old. Programs provide dental health education/practice with young children and families, dental health insurance outreach, oral health education, and increased delivery of oral health screenings (including applying fluoride varnish and referring families for free/low cost oral health care). FTF is collecting statewide implementation and outcome data from these programs. These data demonstrate the efficacy of regionally implemented programs to increase dental screening of expectant women and young children, while employing prevention and early treatment for dental caries, resulting in improved oral health for a growing group of Arizona's youngest residents.