Reading, Writing and Dental Decay
06/28/2007

July fair addresses new legislation, helps local families establish dental home.
By Veronica Jauriqui

Parents preparing their children for the first day of school need to add another box to their checklist of pencils, crayons and glue.  A new state law, which took effect in January, now makes a dental check-up part of the health requirements for children entering elementary school in kindergarten or the first grade.

California legislators approved AB 1433 last year.  It requires that children entering public school for the first time, in kindergarten or first grade, be instructed to have their oral health assessed by a licensed dental professional by May 31 of the first school year.  Oral health evaluations that occurred within the 12 months prior to school entry also meet this requirement. 

The bill was sponsored by the California Dental Association.

Supporters contend it is an important step in targeting a major but silent epidemic plaguing California’s children.  A study released last year by the Dental Health Foundation found that dental disease outpaces asthma, childhood diabetes and even obesity as the state’s primary health problem affecting children.

National studies have also found that school age children age five to 17 miss nearly 2 million school days each year nationwide.

“Dental disease, as we know, is a serious health issue in this state and there is growing awareness that it impedes a child’s ability to develop and learn,” says Roseann Mulligan, associate dean of the school’s community health programs.

As part of USCSD’s efforts to help parents meet this new requirement, the office of community health programs is sponsoring a Family Fun Fair on Saturday, July 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. where children and their families can receive a free oral health assessment.  In addition, children can participate in games, receive a free book and visit with the tooth fairy. The event will take place here at USCSD.

As Gayle Mathe, a community health advocate with the CDA, explains, this is one in a multi-pronged approach necessary to improve children’s oral health. “This isn’t intended to be a one-strategy fix. This is one step in a whole strategy designed to improve oral health for children,” she says. Citing partnerships with professional organizations, HeadStart programs and community groups, Mathe says that this legislation is also working to educate parents on the significance of good oral health for their children.

A child needs to be free of dental disease to do well in school. This is also an educational tool for parents,” she says.

Ultimately, Mulligan explains, the goal of the legislation and of the on-campus event is to encourage families of young children to establish a dental home and an ongoing relationship with a local dental provider hopefully leading to a foundation of lifelong good oral health.

“We want our community partners to realize that we at USC are a resource for the community and can become a dental home for the community children,” she says.

The California law follows similar legislation recently passed in Illinois.  States such as Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Georgia also have similar laws in place, says Mathe.

Jennifer Holtzman, a USCSD faculty member and director of the school’s Neighborhood Mobile Clinic, worked with other members of the CDA in creating the grassroots effort that lead to the CDA championing this effort.  She says that currently, there are no penalties for families who do not meet the requirement.  But the program will give health officials information never before available, she says. 

“The program will identify the children who need more dental treatment and will also identify barriers to receiving care,” she says. “We need to have data.  You can’t work to address a problem without knowing what the extent of the problem is.”

Those interested in volunteering at the July event can contact the school’s community health programs office at (213) 740-2207.

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