The Washington state Department of Health issued the following news release:
Washington rates low in terms of several cost-effective prevention measures for tooth decay, such as fluoride and dental sealant programs in schools. Those are among the findings in the first-ever report on oral health in the state.
'Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease in children, five times more common than asthma,' said State Health Officer Dr. Maxine Hayes. 'Good oral health for both children and adults dramatically improves their quality of life.'
The report, The Impact of Oral Disease on the Lives of Washingtonians, shows that Washington is a public health pioneer on many topics and initiatives. Examples include the Smile Survey, the Community Roots for Oral Health Coalitions manual, and the revised Bright Futures Oral Health/Tooth Tutor educational materials. Many of these have been adopted by other states.
'Oral diseases such as tooth decay and gum disease are important public health issues because they affect many people and can be costly to treat,' said Dr. Joseli Alves-Dunkerson, supervisor of the agency's Oral Health Program. 'Fortunately, most oral diseases can be prevented with simple and effective measures.'
The report shows Washington has met several national guidelines for dental public health (known as Healthy People 2010), including tooth loss in younger and older adults and having a system for recording and referring infants and children with cleft lips and cleft palates. The state has oral health programs in all of its 35 local health agencies, 32 of which rely on their own local oral health coalitions made up of community participants.
The report shows a need for more public education on measures to prevent tooth decay such as fluoride and sealants. The report also identifies smoking cessation as a way to prevent oral and pharyngeal cancers and points out the need for pregnant women to visit a dental professional.
Dental workforce issues remain, especially a shortage of dental providers in rural areas and fewer dentists seeing Medicaid patients.
Some current public health initiatives include the Washington State Collaborative Action Plan on Oral Health Access for Special Populations and the upcoming state Web page showing where to find dental care.
The next step is to use the report as a foundation for the development of a collaborative state oral health plan. Such a plan would provide guidance to government, health professionals, educational institutions, businesses and communities.
The full report and its fact sheet are available on the Oral Health Program (http://www.doh.wa.gov/cfh/Oral_Health/index.htm) Web site. More information is also available by calling 360-236-3507.Contact: Joseli Alves-Dunkerson, 360/236-3524; Jeff Smith, 360/236-4072.
Joseli Alves-Dunkerson, 360/236-3524; Jeff Smith, 360/236-4072.
