USA - Low-income youth to receive fluoride treatmentsby
Low-income youth to receive fluoride treatmentsby
Paul Kopenkoskey
The Grand Rapids Press Tuesday November 18, 2008,
A twice-yearly fluoride varnish can give low-income children a fighting chance against a widespread preventable disease: tooth decay.
That varnish treatment is available free through the Michigan Department of Community Health. It is expected to provide more than 17,000 varnish applications to the teeth of more than 8,000 Medicaid-eligible children during fiscal year 2008-09.
"Tooth decay can easily be prevented with proper care, but many of Michigan's children do not have access to this care and develop dental disease early in life," said Janet Olszewski, director of MDCH, which expects the treatments to reduce up to 60 percent of tooth decay in children who participate in the program.
The topical varnish is a protective coating painted on teeth to help prevent new cavities and stop the ones that have started from gaining new ground on children's teeth. The sticky fluoride attaches easily to the teeth and hardens the outer layer of the teeth -- the enamel. This staves off cavities.
A small disposable brush is used to paint the varnish onto the teeth. The varnish releases fluoride over several months, which strengthens the teeth.
The varnish is recommended for children of all ages, including infants, MDCH spokesman James McCurtis said.
Applications can help children get an early start warding off other oral-related diseases, including gingivitis, McCurtis said.
"That's why it's very important for children to have access to this type of care," he said.
"We want to prevent children from developing dental diseases that lead to other types of ailments."
Children also will receive dental screenings and referrals for treatment and ongoing care.
E-mail the author of this story: yourlife@grpress.com
Grand Rapids - isn't that the first city to be fluoridated?
Paul Kopenkoskey
The Grand Rapids Press Tuesday November 18, 2008,
A twice-yearly fluoride varnish can give low-income children a fighting chance against a widespread preventable disease: tooth decay.
That varnish treatment is available free through the Michigan Department of Community Health. It is expected to provide more than 17,000 varnish applications to the teeth of more than 8,000 Medicaid-eligible children during fiscal year 2008-09.
"Tooth decay can easily be prevented with proper care, but many of Michigan's children do not have access to this care and develop dental disease early in life," said Janet Olszewski, director of MDCH, which expects the treatments to reduce up to 60 percent of tooth decay in children who participate in the program.
The topical varnish is a protective coating painted on teeth to help prevent new cavities and stop the ones that have started from gaining new ground on children's teeth. The sticky fluoride attaches easily to the teeth and hardens the outer layer of the teeth -- the enamel. This staves off cavities.
A small disposable brush is used to paint the varnish onto the teeth. The varnish releases fluoride over several months, which strengthens the teeth.
The varnish is recommended for children of all ages, including infants, MDCH spokesman James McCurtis said.
Applications can help children get an early start warding off other oral-related diseases, including gingivitis, McCurtis said.
"That's why it's very important for children to have access to this type of care," he said.
"We want to prevent children from developing dental diseases that lead to other types of ailments."
Children also will receive dental screenings and referrals for treatment and ongoing care.
E-mail the author of this story: yourlife@grpress.com
Grand Rapids - isn't that the first city to be fluoridated?
posted by Bill at
10:04 AM
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