During February, we celebrate National Children’s Dental Health Month.  In Ohio, we can be proud of the improvements that have been seen in the oral health of our residents through public health efforts. Community water fluoridation, said to be one of the ten great public health achievements of our time, is available to 92 percent of our residents who drink water from public water systems.   

Dental sealants, the most effective tool to prevent the most common type of tooth decay seen in children today, are being provided to children in 47 counties through the school-based Dental Sealant Program at the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), funded by the federal government. This program targets schools mostly in southeastern Ohio and in the major metropolitan areas. These schools have a high percentage of children from lower-income families who are less likely to get dental care in private dental offices.    

Unfortunately, not all children in Ohio have reason to celebrate their dental health. Despite knowing how to prevent most oral disease, it’s still a common problem among many Ohio children. The most recent oral health survey of third grade schoolchildren conducted by ODH in 2009-10 showed that 19 percent had cavities and 11 percent had a toothache during the last six months.

According to the 2008 Ohio Family Health Survey, dental care remains the number one unmet health care need among children and low-income adults in Ohio. This means that many Ohioans are unable to get dental care when they need it.  Poor access to dental care is due to many reasons, but it’s mostly because people can’t afford it or don’t have dental insurance.

The effect of oral diseases that aren’t treated early can be serious: trouble learning and absence from school or work, costly treatment and poorer overall health. Research is showing that oral diseases may be linked to other health problems, such as diabetes and heart disease. Without care, oral diseases may lead to infections in other parts of the body.

Ohio is fortunate to have in place a network of safety net dental clinics that provide care to low-income families.  However, the demand for these services is high and waiting lists for appointments can be months long. 

In response to the ongoing hardship many Ohioans face getting dental care, a task force was convened in 2009 to study ways to address this and other oral health issues. The task force developed strategies and a plan to increase access to dental care for Ohioans. More information about the task force can be found by visiting the 2009 Ohio Director of Health's Task Force on Oral Health and Access to Dental Care Web page.

One of the recommendations called for creating a statewide oral health action team to advocate for, and work on, changes to improve access. ODH is represented on the Children’s Oral Health Action Team (COHAT) that is working to identify ways to improve access to care for Ohio’s children.