Dentistry IQ: Recession affects dental care for youth from low-income families

In a new article featured in Dentistry IQ titled "Recession affects dental care for youth from low-income families", Dr. Steve Adair discusses the results of a recent survey which demonstrate that the recession is having a significant impact on dental care for many kids across the country.

The article states:

The national online poll surveyed 210 parents of young children in households with annual incomes of $35,000 or less. It revealed that one in five (20%) take their children to the dentist less than once a year, well below the American Dental Association’s recommendation of two annual check-ups. About 16% said their children are not insured, and more than 40% said their family receives government health assistance from programs, such as Medicaid and CHIP. Approximately 18% said they have trouble locating a dentist who will treat their children, a finding that reflects a national problem, Dr. Adair said.

“The numbers in the survey are not surprising given the overall challenge the nation faces with regard to dental care for low-income children,” [Dr. Adair] said. “The information reinforces what many of us suspected about the impact of the economy.

Adair goes on to say, "Through events such as health fairs and free dental screenings at schools and day care centers, Small Smiles helps spread the message about the need for establishing an oral health routine to their community,” he continued. “As a profession, we can do a better job educating parents and children of all socioeconomic levels about the importance of good oral health and their options for receiving the dental care that they need.”

To read the Dentistry IQ article, please click here.

To read more about the survey conducted, please click here.

Survey: Recession Endangering Dental Health of American Children

A recent survey of low-income parents has found that financial stress caused by the economic recession is forcing many families to choose between basic necessities such as food, transportation and housing, and routine dental care for their children – exacerbating an epidemic of poor dental health among children from underserved communities.

“There is an overwhelming need for dental care for economically-disadvantaged children across the country,” said Dr. Steven Adair, a faculty member of the Medical College of Georgia.

Small Smiles of Greenville Sponsors Head Start Golf Tournament

On June 20th, Small Smiles of Greenville, SC sponsored and participated in SHARE's 2nd Annual Golf Tournament.

SHARE, the Sunbelt Human Advancement Resources, Inc., is a private non-profit organization that provides a wide range of services to low and moderate-income residents in Anderson, Greenville, Oconee and Pickens counties. SHARE was chartered in 1966 and is headquartered in Greenville, SC. SHARE strives to help low-income individuals, families, and neighborhoods become self-sufficient.

Small Smiles of Greenville partners with SHARE to provide dental services to 90% of the pre-school children who SHARE assists.

In addition to sponsoring the tournament, teams from Small Smiles of Greenville also won 2nd and 3rd place!

Congratulations to the teams and to the dentists and staff in Greenville who are working with SHARE to teach children the importance of a dental routine at an early age.

Dr. Steve Adair Addresses Soda Mouth Crisis in USA Today Letter to the Editor

In a Letter to the Editor that appeared in USA Today on June 18, Dr. Steve Adair highlights the problems associated with soda consumption by children. Dr. Adair's letter, written in response to an article on a potential soda tax which is being considered by Congress and the Administration to help pay for health care reform, states:

"USA TODAY's coverage of a potential soda tax highlights the link between soda consumption and obesity, but there is another soda-driven health problem that is just as prevalent: tooth decay among children ("Pour on taxes, pour on change?," Life, Monday).

Tooth decay affects five times more children than asthma and is the most common chronic childhood disease; 80% of tooth decay among American kids is found in just 25% of all children, a majority of whom come from low-income families. Additionally, children with untreated tooth decay are more likely to have chronic pain and problems eating and sleeping.

This epidemic is driven in part by sugared soda consumption and other unhealthy habits children learn at home, but more needs to be done in communities as well. Nationwide, only about 30% of low-income children receive adequate dental care.

Whether a tax would reduce soda consumption is debatable, but what is certain is that parents and children need to be aware of the risks. Through education and expanded care access, we can help ensure that our nation's children grow up with healthy smiles."

To read the letter on USA Today's website, please click here.

Small Smiles of Roanoke Helps Children Learn to Read

Small Smiles of Roanoke is pleased to be partnering with Smart Beginnings of Roanoke and the United Way to help children in the area learn to read.

Smart Beginnings works with you children to prepare them to enter the classroom. The United Way is also participating in the program has dontated books to help encourage children to read at home.

Small Smiles of Roanoke is pleased to be distributing books from the program to their patients. Office Manager Mandy Dilley reports, "The children are excited to get a book of their own that they can take home."

Acid Reflux in Children Linked to Dental Health

Dentists such as those at Small Smiles dental centers and other caregivers who regularly treat children are aware that a variety of factors can impact a child's dental health. It is also important for parents to be familiar with health issues that could impact their children.

News today from the University of California says that children who have symptoms of chronic acid reflux are significantly more likely to have dental erosions than those without reflux symptoms, according to a new study.

The study, which is the first to examine the relationship between acid reflux and dental health in pediatric patients, was presented today, May 4, 2009, at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting in Baltimore, Md.

The research is also among the first to find a conclusive link between chronic acid reflux and dental erosions in any age group, as previous studies have produced inconsistent results, according to Melvin Heyman, MD, chief of pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition at UC San Francisco's Children’s Hospital and the study’s senior author.

“These findings demonstrate that we really need to start looking for dental erosions in pediatric patients with chronic acid reflux and integrate proper dental care into their treatment regimens,” Heyman said.


Small Smiles dental clinics recommend that parents talk to their child's dentist about a variety of health issues to help safeguard lifelong dental health.

Small Smiles of Holyoke Participates in Healthy Kids Day

Earlier this month, Small Smiles of Holyoke participated in the Healthy Kids Day at the Greater Holyoke YMCA.

The "Put Play In Your Day" event featured games and activities for children and their families. The event also featured short fitness demonstrations to help children and their parents live more active lifestyles.

Small Smiles of Holyoke was proud to be included in the event. Having a healthy smile plays an important role in a child's overall health. At the event, Small Smiles caregivers demonstrated the sugar content of popular beverages and explained how these beverages can have a negative impact on dental health.

Small Smiles Dental Center is committed to keeping the children of Holyoke healthy. To read more about the event, please click here.