Abstract:
According to the Center for Disease Control in 2010, Americans make roughly 500 million visits to the dentist each year. It is estimated that $102 billion was spent on dental services in the United States for the year 2009 (National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 2010). Many of these visits can be prevented with good dental hygiene. However, many barriers to the prevention of dental problems exist that eventually add to the cost of dental care. The purposes of this project were to determine the effects of poor dental hygiene on children by 1) researching information about steps taken to prevent or reduce poor dental hygiene; 2) identifying risk factors that contribute to poor dental hygiene, 3) identifying complications related to poor dental hygiene; 4) identifying the role of the nurse in promoting good dental hygiene; and 5) creating a pamphlet for students and their parents at Head Start in Muncie, Indiana that explains the importance of good dental hygiene.Data indicated that many dental health problems can be prevented (NCCDPHP, 2010). Poor dental hygiene is associated with socioeconomic status, access to healthcare, age, cognitive ability, and nutrition. Research shows that children who have lower socioeconomic status are at higher risk of having poor dental hygiene (Parthasarathy & John, 2008). Lack of access to healthcare is indicative of poor dental hygiene because children are not receiving the necessary measures to help prevent dental caries (Szilagyi, 2009). Dental caries are the most common pediatric disease, increasing health risks for children with poor dental hygiene already (Szilagyi, 2009). Nutrition is a key factor in dental hygiene (ADA, 2007). Malnutrion and poor food preferences including acidic beverages increase the risk of poor dental hygiene (ADA, 2007).Teaching children at a young age good dental hygiene habits can benefit them in the future. Nurses are prime leaders in promoting good dental hygiene. Nurses advocate for clients who lack crucial access to health care and are active in raising awareness about good dental hygiene and its effects on health. Overall, good dental hygiene is not considered an important problem in health, but through education and intervention by the nurse, dental hygiene can be given the attention that it needs.
