A recent review highlights the significant impact of socioeconomic factors on pediatric oral health, revealing that children from lower-income families are more susceptible to dental caries, also known as tooth decay. The study, published in Cureus, underscores the disparities in oral health among children in different socioeconomic groups and the importance of public health insurance in mitigating these disparities.
Children from the lowest household income bracket are over 50% more likely to experience tooth decay compared to their wealthier counterparts. Public insurance coverage is associated with the highest prevalence of dental caries, and children without insurance are nearly twice as likely to forgo dental treatment. These findings suggest that expanding public health insurance could significantly improve oral health care for children.
Pediatricians are identified as playing a crucial role in establishing a dental home for children, which is recommended as soon as the first tooth erupts. A dental home provides coordinated, family-centered access to preventive and interventional dental services, which can prevent early childhood caries (ECC) and improve overall quality of life.
The study also points to a shortage of pediatric dentists (PDs) compared to general dentists (GDs), which affects the availability of specialized dental care for children. This shortage is particularly acute in underserved areas, further exacerbating health disparities.
Addressing these disparities requires a multifaceted approach, including increasing the supply of dentists, especially in underserved areas, and ensuring that children from all socioeconomic backgrounds have access to quality dental care. The findings of this study contribute to a growing body of literature that calls for policy changes and increased efforts to reduce oral health inequities among children in the United States[.
See “The Impact of Socioeconomic Factors on Pediatric Oral Health: A Review” by Omar S. Almajed et al. on the Cureus website (February 4, 2024)
