Delta Dental and National Head Start Association Launch Partnership to Improve Preschoolers' Oral Health

Delta Dental Plans Association (DDPA) and the National Head Start Association have joined together to fight a growing epidemic of poor oral health among some of our nation’s youngest citizens. The alliance will provide resources to improve the oral health status of children in the Head Start program. This includes oral health education and, in some areas, screening and preventive care.

“With the right tools, cavities and other oral health problems are almost entirely preventable, yet millions of children continue suffering needlessly from the physical and social burdens of poor oral health,” said Kim Volk, president and CEO of DDPA. “The National Head Start Association already understands the value of oral health and together we can reach large numbers of children at a critical time in their development.”

Dental caries (tooth decay) is the single most common chronic childhood disease in the United States.¹ According to a recent report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the trend appears to be worsening among preschool-aged children. The figures, which compared National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 1988-1994 and 1999-2004, showed that tooth decay in primary (baby) teeth increased from 24% to 28% in children aged two to five years. These numbers are particularly significant considering that cavity rates among older children decreased during this same time period.

The CDC report also showed disparities in the oral health status of children based on race, ethnicity and income. For children ages 6 to 11 from families with incomes below the federal poverty line, 12% had untreated tooth decay compared with 4% of children from families living above the poverty line. Among Mexican-American children in that same age group, 31% had decay in their permanent teeth compared with 19% of non-Hispanic white children. 

Oral health is important to the overall health and well-being of young children even before permanent teeth emerge. Keeping baby teeth healthy helps set the stage for a lifetime of oral health. At any age, chronic dental pain from conditions such as cavities, gingival disease, malocclusion (poor bite) and oral trauma can contribute to a range of physical, developmental and social issues. Children with poor oral health can sometimes experience impaired speech development, nutritional deficiencies, reduced self-esteem, and absences from and an inability to concentrate in school.² 

“Our educators have seen firsthand how oral health issues can impact a child’s ability to learn, concentrate and interact with others -- all critical parts of early childhood development,” said Sarah Green, president and CEO of National Head Start Association. “This partnership brings together two organizations that value children’s oral health and feel a responsibility to make a real difference. We value Delta Dental’s contributions to our program in various parts of the country over the years, and are excited about bringing their oral health knowledge and expertise to more children and families.” 

Created in the mid-1960s, Head Start is regarded as the most successful, longest-running national school readiness program in the United States. In addition to providing comprehensive education to low-income children, they are also charged with offering health and nutrition services. Nearly 25 million preschool children have benefited from Head Start.

Recently, the Delta Dental of New Jersey Foundation requested proposals from all New Jersey and Connecticut Head Start programs for their dental program for 2008. The Foundation received several applications, and one New Jersey and one Connecticut program were chosen to move to Round 2 of the grant application process. If they are successful in receiving a grant for 2008, Delta Dental will notify them in December 2007.

¹ Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General, 2000.
² Oral Health & Learning - When Children’s Health Suffers, So Does Their Ability to Learn (2nd ed.) 2003 by National Maternal & Child Oral Health Resource Center.