Contact: Pam Rucinski
715-241-7316
Wisconsin-based Dentistry Clinic Launches Best Care Program to Support Healthier Children
Wausau, WI— There are few things in life that are more precious than the wide, toothless grin of an infant. The majority of doting moms and dads are often shocked to discover that behind that beaming smile, their infant may have dental disease and decay, even before their first birthday. In an effort to increase awareness of painful decay and gum disease that may occur at such a young age, a Wisconsin-based dentistry clinic, First Impressions, has announced the launch of it educational program, Best Care. Although the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) has published numerous studies on this very issue, First Impressions is concerned that they are not seeing an increase in public awareness and have designed “Best Care” to combat dental disease in infants.
National studies from the AAPD reveal that nearly half of mothers do not clean their babies’ mouths and less than one-third brush their children’s teeth before the age of one. First Impressions sees hundreds of young children each week at their five locations and have found that by a child’s first visit, many youngsters have already developed disease that could have easily been prevented. Currently, nearly one in five three-year-olds suffers from tooth decay. This increases to 40% by the time a child enters kindergarten.
First Impressions is Wisconsin’s largest dental care provider for children on Medicare and is the biggest privately owned pediatric dental clinic in the state. Wisconsin Society of Pediatric Dentistry president and First Impressions dentist Dr. Tom Turner says, “It is disturbing to see infants come to our clinics with cavities. Decay is a preventable disease.”
Decay in baby teeth can progress rapidly if left untreated. Infants can suffer pain, infections and difficulty with chewing. Infants acquire cavity-causing bacteria from drinking bottles, nursing, sucking on toys, from adults who blow on their food, and sharing a drink.
The most unsettling myth many parents believe is that baby teeth don’t matter because they are not permanent. “This is absolutely incorrect,” says Dr. Turner. “Baby teeth pave the way for adult teeth. Tooth decay in baby teeth can enter the underlying bone structure. If the baby teeth fall out too early, there can be major problems for the subsequent permanent teeth.”
First Impressions provides parents an online cavity predictor to quickly access their child’s risk. http://fidkids.com/FI_CAVITY_PREDICTOR/ “Taking care of infant teeth is one of the most important steps parents can take to prevent needless pain and tooth decay,” remarks Dr. Turner. “Prevention can also reduce cost of dental care as their child grows. It’s a win-win for parents and kids.”
First Impressions’ Best Care program creates closer connections with parents by providing important information, instruction, and follow-up to help with infant oral care at home. Dental appointments by the age of one year are strongly encouraged to check for bottle decay and other gum issues.
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For more information, please visit http://www.fidkids.com or call 1-877-343-5435. To schedule an interview with Dr. Turner, contact Pam Rucinski at rucinski@rucinskireetz.com or (715) 241-7316.
