Poor Children and Dental Disease

‘Silent epidemic’ of dental disease threatens poor kids’ health, By Renée C. Lee, March 4, 2012, Houston Chronicle: “Every time Dr. Martee Engel treats a young patient whose teeth have brown or white chalky spots, she’s reminded of an acute problem affecting children – particularly poor children. Engel sees more than her share of early childhood tooth decay as dental director at Denver Harbor Clinic in northeast Houston. The clinic treats mostly poor children who are twice as likely as more affluent children to have untreated tooth decay, studies show. While overall oral health care for adults and children has improved, tooth decay continues to be the most common chronic disease among children. It can have serious social and health consequences when untreated and, in rare cases, can be fatal…”