London, ON – When should a child first visit a dentist? The Canadian Dental Association, the Canadian Pediatric Society and Health Canada all recommend children should be seen by a dental professional by the time they turn one year old. What isn’t clear is just how widely known the recommendations are, as childhood tooth decay is one of the most common diseases in Canada. The Middlesex-London Health Unit conducted a recent survey of more than 200 families whose children attend the Thames Valley Neighbourhood Early Learning Program. The research found fewer than 30 percent of parents were aware of the importance of visits to the dentist for very young children.
As part of its Oral Health Month initiatives, the Health Unit is reaching out to local daycares, Early Years Centres, Child and Youth Network agencies and other organizations to promote first dental visits by a child’s first birthday. Through such early appointments, dentists can detect concerns before they become more significant problems. These evaluations can also lead to parent-dentist discussions about how to prevent early childhood tooth decay. The Health Unit is also working with the London and District Dental Society to offer support and resources to local dental offices which currently work with or are interested in working with very young children.
“It’s disheartening to know that the most common day surgery performed in children’s hospitals in North America is surgery to fix and remove teeth damaged by early childhood tooth decay. A visit to a dental health professional can go a long way to preventing this kind of decay,” says Maria van Harten, Dental Consultant with the Middlesex-London Health Unit. “We need to increase our efforts to let people know that this kind of health issue is preventable through early assessment.”
National Oral Health Month is recognized each April and is part of a Canada-wide effort to highlight the importance of oral health and the critical role that dentists and dental health professionals play in supporting overall health. More information about oral health is available online at the Canadian Dental Association’s website.
Media Contact:
Dan Flaherty, Communications Manager, Middlesex-London Health Unit, 519-663-5317 ext.2469 or 519-617-0570 (cell.)
Spokespeople:
Chimere Okoronkwo, Oral Health Manager, Middlesex-London Health Unit
Maria van Harten, Dental Consultant, Middlesex-London Health Unit