Despite widespread fluoridation in Australia, "Dental decay putting more children in hospital than asthma: report"
http://www.dentistryiq.com/index/display/news-display/1309206037.html

Should Infants Drink Fluoridated Water?

State Medicaid cuts threaten oral health

State Medicaid cuts threaten oral health: "Treatment for dental problems at the hospital can cost 15 to 20 times higher than an office visit, he said. 'Typically, we come in and have to admit the patient for two or three days because of severe infection and swelling. The hospital stay is $3,600 and it's at least $3,000 for a trip to the ED,' Haghighi said. 'Now you're looking at $6,600 to remove three teeth, which would have been a $400 procedure,' if done in a dental office."

"The St. John Medical Center Emergency Department already sees nearly twice as many dental-related cases as the national average, spokesman Randy Querin said. Of the 54,000 Emergency Department visits during a recent 12-month period, about 2,000 were dental-related. That's about 3.7 percent, almost double the national average.

Most of those were uninsured patients or on Medicaid, Querin said."

Toothache More Likely to Strike Poor, Minority Kids: U.S. Study - healthfinder.gov

Toothache More Likely to Strike Poor, Minority Kids: U.S. Study - healthfinder.gov: "Toothache More Likely to Strike Poor, Minority Kids: U.S. Study
Equitable, universal dental care could help ease the disparity, researchers say."

Temple school of dentistry will open a 10-chair clinic | Philadelphia Business Journal

Philadelphia has been fluoridated for decades. Yet, they need a new facility to handle the large number of people who need dental care. Temple school of dentistry will open a 10-chair clinic | Philadelphia Business Journal

Dental Clinic and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile | Medical Services | Arkansas Children's Hospital

Dental Clinic and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile | Medical Services | Arkansas Children's Hospital: "Did you know?

* In Arkansas, 27% of our children have untreated dental decay.
* 57% of Arkansas’ children have some kind of dental cavities experience.
Tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease today, five times more common than asthma.
* The Ronald McDonald Care Mobiles in Arkansas are the 36th and 39th units to bring care and hope to underserved children around the world."

Public News Service

Public News Service:

Dental Care Crisis: Is a Healthy Smile Possible for all Ohioans?

In Ohio, which is 89% fluoridated: "'It's just something unfortunately that is seen as a commodity in our country. And I've had to go out of my way to get the dental service I need. I actually have left the country to get cavities filled. It's pretty devastating.'"

Report: Income a 'really significant factor' in wellness � Knoxville News Sentinel

Knox County, Tennessee is fluoridated; but tooth decay rates have nothing to do with fluoride intake and all to do with poverty level (and inability to get dental care and nutritious foods): "For example, 1.7 percent of Knox County adults with a household income of $50,000 a year or more, and 6.7 of those with annual income between $35,000-$49,999, reported having had all their teeth pulled because of infection, tooth decay or gum disease. But 14 percent of those with annual household income of $15,000-$24,999 had; at $15,000 and below, it jumped to 18.5 percent. More than a quarter of non-high school grads had had their teeth pulled."

Report: Income a 'really significant factor' in wellness � Knoxville News Sentinel:

"Mortality associated with dental caries and dental intervention.

The case of Deamonte Driver probably is the best-known case of caries-related mortality. Lesser known are the cases of Alexander Callender, a 6-year-old Mississippi boy who died of sepsis, and Jackie Martinez, a 7-year-old California girl who choked on a crown during a dental visit.2 Unknown to but a few involved in their care are the names of many other children who have died as a result of sedation mishaps or an overdose of local anesthetic during treatment for ECC [early childhood caries]. ECC-associated mortality secondary to infection and treatment likely never will be known owing to inadequate surveillance, lack of an ECC registry, issues of confidentiality, the terms of some legal settlements, missing or incorrect diagnoses, and even inconsistent diagnostic coding choices by hospitals and physicians. Among brain abscesses alone, 15 percent result from infections of unknown source, some or many of which may be of dental origin. It is likely that mortality related to ECC and its treatment is underreported. Coté and colleagues,in an attempt to identify pediatric deaths related to sedation during an almost 30-year period, commented that their study sample represented a gross underreporting while also stating that dental specialists were disproportionately represented among all pediatric health providers."

http://jada.ada.org/cgi/content/full/140/6/650

Fluoride Treatment | Fluoride Supplements | Fluoride Tablets

Fluoride Treatment | Fluoride Supplements | Fluoride Tablets: "Dentists do not prescribe more than 264 milligrams of fluoride tablets at a time because the toxic dose of fluoride for a 2-year-old child weighing 22 pounds is 320 milligrams. To avoid any chance of overdose, do not stock up on fluoride tablets. If you have any questions regarding fluoride risks, talk to your dentist or physician."

Medicaid squeeze: Shrinking federal reimbursements cause doctors to limit care to needy | lansingstatejournal.com | Lansing State Journal

:

"'When I was with the Department of Human Services, all the kids in the foster care system had Medicaid coverage and dental coverage. But many of them could not find dentists to care for them. Just having the card didn't mean anything.'"

New W.Va. Dental Statistics Are Nothing to Smile About - State Journal - STATEJOURNAL.com

New W.Va. Dental Statistics Are Nothing to Smile About - State Journal - STATEJOURNAL.com: West Virginia is one of the most highly fluoridated states but, "According to government statistics, West Virginia ranks dead last in the nation for dental health."

North Dakota launches new programme to reduce rates of decay

North Dakota launches new programme to reduce rates of decay: "A recent study revealed that 55 percent of 3rd grade students in North Dakota have decay." despite North Dakota having a 96% fluoridation rate

138th APHA Annual Meeting (November 6-10, 2010): Prevalence of Early Childhood Caries and Parent Knowledge, Attitudes, Beliefs and Behaviors of Urban Hispanic Three Year Olds

In fluoridated Denver Colorado, "The prevalence of ECC [early childhood cavities] in poor, Hispanic, 3-3 ½ year old children is very high. Previous reports of ECC may underestimate the caries experience of these young, at-risk children."

138th APHA Annual Meeting (November 6-10, 2010): Prevalence of Early Childhood Caries and Parent Knowledge, Attitudes, Beliefs and Behaviors of Urban Hispanic Three Year Olds:

Tootaches more likely in minority, poor, special needs children, study finds

Tootaches more likely in minority, poor, special needs children, study finds: Fluoridation is not leveling out tooth decay between poor and non-poor Americans.

Minorities, poor and special needs children have had more toothaches than white children, according to a report published in this month’s Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.

Even after controlling for insurance and poverty status, black and multiracial children were more at risk for experiencing toothache than white children, researchers from the University of Washington in Seattle reported.