A study by the Little Hoover Commission found that tooth decay is a common problem for children in California, with 14.8 percent of the state’s children ages 1 to 17 reporting this issue and cavities in the last 12 months in a survey spanning from 2020 to 2021.
Moreover, the data indicates that less than half of the children in Medi-Cal received an annual dental visit in 2022 — 3 percent higher than when the initial report was released in 2016, which implored the state to do more to ensure that children have access to needed care.
The scientists behind the study say there are many factors contributing to this prevalent dental problem: limited access to dental care for children in low-income families, bad or deficient dental hygiene, and frequent exposure to sweetened liquids, such as breast milk, formula, juice, and sweetened water.
And the consequences can be grave. Untreated tooth decay can lead to pain, infections, and other health problems, including impaired growth, speech and sleep issues, and poor school performance.
That’s why Dr. Fernando Rodriguez, Director of Dental Services at Clinica Romero, which offers a number of basic dental services and education to children and adults in two of its six clinics, emphasizes the need for brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing daily, and visiting the dentist regularly.
GROWING UP IN A DENTAL CLINIC
A native of Costa Rica, Dr. Rodriguez grew up surrounded by dental care. His father was a dentist with a dental laboratory at the bottom of their two-story home.
“Ever since I was a kid, I’d be in the dental laboratory all the time,” he says. “I was really curious, and I always liked dentistry.”
So he followed his father’s footsteps and graduated from the Universidad de Costa Rica (the only one at the time) with a dentistry degree in 1980.
After he moved to the U.S. in the 1980s, Dr. Rodriguez began volunteering at Clinica Romero a few days a week. By 2000, he joined as part-time and never left.
Today, he’s in charge of overseeing five staff who provide basic dental care services such as cleaning, fillings, crowns, and endodontics. Patients who require surgery and other major dental work are sent to USC or Los Angeles County General Hospital.
“More than anything, our work is preventive,” Dr. Rodriguez says.
Dr. Rodriguez also says that there is this common thinking among Latino parents that children will lose their teeth anyway, so they don’t pay too much attention to dental care when their children are young.
RODRIGUEZ: ‘DON’T DISREGARD YOUR TEETH’
In his experience, Dr. Rodriguez says that children integrated in the educational system in California tend to have “pretty good preventive (dental care) services,” but that’s not the case with a lot of the newly arrived immigrants.
“Many of them are just trying to survive; they’re not thinking about going to the dentist,” he says.
Similarly, immigrant children often need more extensive dental treatments.
Dr. Rodriguez also says that there is this common thinking among Latino parents that children will lose their teeth anyway, so they don’t pay too much attention to dental care when their children are young.
“They think that if it doens’t hurt, they don’t need to take them to the dentist,” he notes. “But when it hurts, the problem is already there.”
This also leads to children’s fear of the dentist, becuase they require more work when they actually show up to get treatment.
“The best way to do it is to gradually introduce the child to dental care so it’s less traumatic,” he says.
That’s why they have began implementing Teledentistry focused on parents of children ages 0-3.
“Cavities can be prevented 100 percent,” Dr. Rodriguez says. “The ideal is to start (oral care) since mothers are pregnant.”
Through videos, parents are taught how to clean and inspect their children’s mouth (even if they don’t yet have teeth) to catch any problems before they worsen.
IT’S NOT JUST CANDIES
Dr. Rodriguez also warns about the common thinking that it’s just candies that ruin teeth. While eating an excess of sweets may lead to oral problems, oral hygiene – even just flossing on a daily basis – is a priority.
“Oral health is part of our overall health,” he says. “Everything is connected.
“Don’t wait until something bothers us. Come and get a cleaning and an oral exam,” he encourages.
TIPS TO KEEP YOUR TEETH HEALTHY
Brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes
Floss between your teeth
Use a mouthwash
Cut down on sugar
Drink more water
Brush baby teeth as soon as they come through
Have regular dental check-ups
RESOURCES
Dental Services at Clinica Romero
To make an appointment, call (213) 989-7700 ext 2713,2714 or 2778
Medi-Cal and Health Net Liberty Dental accepted
Telehealth emergency appointments for adults and children on Wednesdays