Pediatric Dental Disease and the Domino Effect

First Tooth Pain, Then School Absence, Then Lower Grades, Then Parental Concern, Then Lost Work Days . . .

Poor oral health, dental disease, and tooth pain can put children at a serious disadvantage in school.  Researchers had previously documented that 73% of disadvantaged children in Los Angeles have cavities.  This study illuminates the specific connection between oral health and performance in school for this population.  Children who reported having recent tooth pain were 4 times more likely to have a low grade point average (GPA)--below the median GPA of 2.8--when compared to children without oral pain.  Poor oral health doesn't just appear to be connected to lower grades.  Dental problems also seem to cause more absences from school for children and more missed work for parents.
On average, elementary children missed a total of 6 days per year, and high school children missed 2.6 days.  For elementary students, 2.1 days of missed school were due to dental problems, and high school students missed 2.3 days due to dental issues.  In addition, parents missed an average of 2.5 days of work per year to care for children with dental problems.
A factor determining whether children miss school due to dental health issues was the accessibility of dental care.  11% of children who had limited access to dental care--whether due to lack of insurance, lack of transportation or other barriers--missed school due to their poor oral health as opposed to only 4% who had easier access to dental care.
The date indicated there is an impact on students' academic performance due to dental problems. 

Info from Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC, "American Journal fo Public Health"-The Impact of Oral Health on teh Academic Performance of Disadvantaged Children, Dr. Roseann Mulligan.

Dr. Caroline Wallace DDS
Complete Dental Care
103 South Colorado Street
Salem, Virginia, 24153
54-387-3844