It is no secret that growing numbers of children in our nation and community come from homes with single parents and low income levels. One aspect of healthcare that low-income families are disproportionately affected by is childhood tooth decay. The rate of untreated dental caries in children from families with incomes below the poverty level is double that of non-poor children. Nationally, nine million children lack health insurance and more than twice that number lack access to oral health services. From 1997-2012, on average, approximately seven percent of children between ages two and 17 had unmet dental needs, meaning they did not receive needed dental care in the past year due to financial constraints. The percentage of children who had not seen a dentist within the past year was 18 percent in 2012.
In our community, the Healthy Kids Program is a good measure of the number of kids in our area who are low income and likely have unmet dental needs. Forty percent of Prescott families with students in the school system live at poverty level and suffer from undernourishment every day. It is estimated that approximately 450 students in the Quad Cities area are homeless and are being served meals through the Healthy Kids program annually. Hence, there are likely many students in our area who continue to also have unmet dental needs.
Dental disease is preventable, yet it is the most common unmet health treatment in children. Untreated oral diseases can lead to problems in eating, speaking and sleeping. Children with chronic dental pain may also experience poor performance in school and social relationships, difficulty concentrating, poor self-image, problems completing schoolwork and low weight. These children from low-income homes additionally suffer from a host of other challenges in their family life.
Fortunately, since the 1970s, Kathleen Murphy, CEO of the non-profit organization, Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters (YBBBS), has been helping to improve the lives of our community’s at-risk youth. The majority of these children are from single parent households and those at or below poverty level. Matched youth perform better in school, avoid violence and illegal activities and have stronger relationships with their parents. Locally, Yavapai Juvenile Court records show that boys 14-17 years of age matched to a Big Brother are 53 percent less likely to be arrested than others in this group. YBBBS currently has 500 active matches and encompasses 20 communities and 75 schools throughout Yavapai County and Sedona.
We congratulate Murphy on her well-deserved retirement and welcome new CEO Christine Clouse as she shepherds the staff and volunteers, donors, Bigs and Littles into the future, tackling an aggressive plan of matching 1,000 kids over the next five years. We at Jason C Campbell, DDS, Cosmetic and Family Dentistry and the Advanced Prosthetics Institute (API) are excited to partner with YBBBS and provide financial support to help match the 200 children who are currently on the waiting list. We are offering new patients a new patient consultation and a 7 Series Bitewing X-rays for a reduced price of $29.99. In turn, we will contribute the full amount received to Yavapai Big Brother Big Sisters to go toward matching Bigs and Littles. The cost to make and support a Big and Little Match is $1,200 annually. Take the first step in investing in your dental health while investing in our youth by calling our office at 928-776-1208 to schedule your appointment. (You must bring in our QCBN ad.) Learn more at www.MyPrescottDentist.com, www.APIDentalRehab.com and www.AZBigs.org. QCBN
Dr. Jason C Campbell, DDS, of the Advanced Prosthetics Institute and Jason C Campbell, DDS, Cosmetic & Family Dentistry. Both offices are located at 139 W. Whipple St., Prescott. Learn more about our prevention to dental rehabilitation services at www.APIDentalRehab.com and www.MyPrescottDentist.com or call our offices at 928-776-1208.