Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Kids and Dental Health: Rising Costs and Struggling State Programs a Dangerous Mix - Kaiser Health News

Kids and Dental Health: Rising Costs and Struggling State Programs a Dangerous Mix - Kaiser Health News:

"In 2009, the total dental expense for children in the U.S. was approximately $30.6 billion, one-third of all spending on dental care. Dental costs are roughly 20 percent of a child’s total health care expenses, and these costs are growing quickly. According to the Pew report, total annual spending for dental care is expected to increase 58 percent — from $101.9 billion to $161.4 billion — between 2009 and 2018."

“'The use of ambulatory surgery for dental problems is among the top five reasons for [same-day] surgery in kids under five,'”

"Both costs and tooth decay are rising for children under five. According to a 2007 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study, in the past decade, the number of cavities in children between the ages of two and five has increased 15 percent. For children with families living under the poverty line, it’s even worse: They’re twice as likely to have untreated tooth decay. “It sort of gives us pause to think about what the future might be,” says Dr. Crall. “'Tooth decay in primary teeth is one of the better predictors as to whether kids are going to have tooth decay in permanent teeth.'”