By Bobbi Jo Muto and Gina Sharps
It has been said that the eyes are a window to the soul just as the mouth is a mirror to the rest of the body. Think about it. Your mouth and teeth affect more than your physical appearance. They affect every part of your life, and if you have ever experienced a toothache, you know just how devastating dental pain can be.
Communication skills, the ability to eat, your relationship with others, health costs, job eligibility and self-confidence are all directly impacted by the health of your mouth. The health and condition of the mouth can have a major effect on your life, even on how long you live. Over the past several years, scientific studies have demonstrated that dental disease is a potential risk factor for heart and lung disease, diabetes and delivering pre-mature and low birth weight babies. If left untreated, poor oral health can increase the risk of developing potentially life-threatening diseases that are responsible for the deaths of millions of Americans—including many West Virginians—each year.
Historically, West Virginia has struggled to distance itself from the negative stereotype associated with poor oral health. For example, it is no secret that West Virginia has oftentimes been portrayed in the national spotlight as a culture of people where the accepted norm is adults displaying a total absence of teeth. Unfortunately, West Virginia does lead the country in tooth loss among those 65 and older, and our oral health status is ranked among the poorest in the nation on several measures affecting both adults and children. Oral diseases are progressive and cumulative and become more complex over time, affecting economic productivity and compromising our ability to work at home, school or on the job. It may surprise you to learn that 164 million work hours and 51 million school hours are lost each year due to dental-related illnesses or dental visits throughout the United States. In fact, according to the United States Surgeon General’s report on oral health, tooth decay is the single most common chronic childhood disease. Children experiencing untreated tooth decay are often afflicted with severe pain and infection, which in turn can lead to problems in eating, speaking and learning.
Moreover, poor oral health has been related to decreased school performance, poor social relationships, a negative impact on self-esteem and less success later in life. Young children experiencing pain are easily distracted and often unable to verbalize their discomfort. Many times children will demonstrate the effects of pain through anxiety, fatigue, irritability, depression and withdrawal from normal activities.
Adults also face several barriers to achieving optimal oral health status, such as low socio-economic status, access to dental care and lack of dental insurance. Dental insurance is a major contributor to oral health status, and for every adult 19 years or older with medical insurance, there are currently three without dental insurance. Each of these factors is closely being considered as policy makers in the state continue to implement and perfect strategies to improve oral health. However, there is a lot to be said when it comes to perpetuating cultural norms and beliefs around one’s oral health. Many people still believe that conditions such as tooth loss, toothaches and dry mouth happen naturally as you grow older, but the truth is that most of these conditions result from periodontal, or gum, disease, tooth decay or side effects of medications. Losing teeth is not part of the aging process, and teeth should last for a lifetime, thus the name permanent teeth.
In response to these findings, West Virginia has taken bold steps to address oral health disparities. In 2010, West Virginia developed and implemented the first-ever West Virginia Oral Health Plan recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The plan highlights specific strategies aimed at improving all aspects of oral health. In addition, a statewide oral health surveillance system, which is directly linked to the CDC, was established, thereby providing a credible and ongoing source of data collection.
Since inception, the oral health plan has established the West Virginia Oral Health Coalition, increased the number of school-based oral health services and expanded the role of preventive dental care to primary care providers. Funding for the implementation of school-based oral health services has come from agencies that include the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Claude W. Benedum Foundation and the West Virginia Office of Oral Health, and Marshall University has administered the services. To date, more than 5,000 children have received services, and plans are ongoing to increase the number of school-based services.
Engaging primary care providers to offer preventive oral health services to children at high risk for developing decay has also been a monumental achievement. The West Virginia Children’s Health Insurance Program, along with the West Virginia University School of Dentistry, has been the leader in training primary care providers on how to assess and manage those young children that are most vulnerable. Additional local and state initiatives directed by the oral health plan are continuously rolling out, giving West Virginians something to smile about.
Oral health is one of the most pressing health issues affecting the children and adults of our state. While the issues are multi-dimensional and difficult to solve, they are by no means an impossible task. It is important to understand that the problem is not just within the dental community but also affects both professional and business leaders, school officials, policy makers and society as a whole. We challenge you to do your part as we continue to make progress in ensuring bright and healthy smiles for all of West Virginia.
