Oral health assessment for California schoolchildren: are organized dentistry and the California legislature receptive to the concept?
The need to improve the oral health of children in our state has been well-documented in the past 10 years. The concept, however, of intervention by identification of the dental disease process on a widespread basis at the age of school entrance has only recently been advanced. In view of the fact that dental caries remains the No. 1 chronic disease of childhood, the need for intervention no later than the time a child enrolls in primary school may be a way to reduce the oral health problem before it becomes emergent.
University of Southern California, School of Dentistry, Department of Advanced Pediatric Dentistry, USA.
Santos
S
Cortez
Paul A
PA
Reggiardo
D002140:California; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D012571:School Dentistry / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*