Implementing Public Health Interventions to Reduce Caries Prevalence

By Christine M. Farrell, RDH, BSDH, MPA and Jill Moore, RDH, EdD, MHA, BSDH

Dental caries, although highly preventable, remains one of the most prevalent chronic childhood diseases in children in the United States. Currently, 20% of children between the ages of 5 and 11, and 13% of adolescents have at least one tooth with active dental decay. Although caries is preventable with education and access to dental care, these solutions are widely unavailable because children residing in low-income families, who most often face access-to-care barriers, are twice as likely to experience decay. Evidence also shows that racial minorities experience the greatest burden of oral diseases. Performing assessments, adopting policies, and assuring access to care are core public health measures to help combat dental decay.

* References can be found in the original article via the link below.
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