DENTAL PROBLEMS CAN HINDER KIDS' LEARNING IN SCHOOL - START SCHOOL YEAR RIGHT WITH CHECKUPS FOR KIDS

PARSIPPANY, NJ (August 15, 2002) – Dental problems such as decay and trauma can cause schoolchildren severe pain and keep them from learning in the classroom. And sometimes these problems keep them out of the classroom altogether. The fact is, U.S. children lose an estimated 51 million school hours each year due to dental-related illness.

"Painful, chronic dental problems can hurt a student's ability to thrive," said Dr. Scott Navarro, Dental Director, Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey. "Early tooth loss due to decay can impair speech development, and students may fall behind in schoolwork due to increased absences. When they are in school, students experiencing dental pain may have trouble concentrating and learning."

School nurses report a range of dental problems in children they see, including dental caries, gum disease, poor bite, loose teeth, and oral trauma. Children from low-income families are hardest hit with oral health problems, suffering nearly five times as much dental caries as children from higher-income families, according to the U.S. General Accounting Office. If left untreated, the pain and infection from these oral health problems can lead to trouble eating, speaking, and learning.

Students with chronic dental pain aren't always able to verbalize it. Teachers may notice that a student is anxious, depressed or fatigued, but not automatically recognize these behaviors as manifestations of physical pain. When children's dental problems are treated and they are no longer in pain, both their learning and school attendance records improve, according to the American Journal of Public Health.

"The start of a new school year is a good time to evaluate your children's dental health and habits. It may be time for a checkup and a new toothbrush," said Dr. Navarro. "Checking oral health is as important as booster shots and should be part of regular back-to-school preparations."

Even with regular checkups, dentists recommend that parents periodically check their children's mouths for signs of periodontal disease, including bleeding, swollen and/or bright red gums, persistent bad breath, and gums that have receded from teeth.

Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey, Inc., is New Jersey’s and Connecticut's leading dental benefits carrier, providing coverage to more than one million people through contracts with employers in New Jersey and Connecticut. The Delta Dental Plan system is a national network of independently operated, not-for-profit dental service corporations specializing in providing dental benefits programs for employee groups throughout the country. For more information visit us on the Web at www.deltadentalnj.com.