Clinics offer preschool dental care and advice

Forty-two per cent of Waikato preschoolers have experienced tooth decay, a report on the 2012 oral health of five- year- olds shows.

‘‘Once you’ve got decay, you’ve generally got a lot of it,’’ says Diane Pevreal, service manager for Waikato District Health Board’s Waikids Community Oral Health, which provides free dental care for more than 60,000 Waikato children including in Matamata.

Waikato DHB statistics show that on average children with decay have five teeth affected.

Ms Pevreal says that to fix five teeth is likely to require two to three hours of dental care and risks creating an anxiety about dental care.

‘‘ Having five fillings is also an indicator that those same children will suffer from tooth decay throughout their lifetime, which is an additional expense when free care ends from 18 years of age,’’ she says.

Community dentist Jennifer Norris says the worst cases of dental decay in children are treated at hospital under general anaesthetic. This involves 1000 Waikato children each year.

‘‘For many of these children their teeth are so rotted that they are beyond saving and the only treatment option for dentists is to surgically take them out.’’

By following simple rules at home, parents can make a big difference.

Ms Pevreal says: ‘‘Parents need to check that they’re doing the right things at home, as tooth decay is almost entirely preventable.’’

Parents often get a fright at how quickly untreated tooth decay progresses, and they should look for changes in their preschoolers’ teeth and get care immediately if they notice a change.

Prevention needs to start early in a baby’s life and visiting Waikids Community Oral Health at least once a year from one year of age will get babies off to a really good start.

Dental therapists will encourage children to drink only water or milk and will show parents how to brush youngsters’ teeth twice each day with an adult-strength fluoridated toothpaste.

The clinics can help strengthen teeth against decay and can seal grooves that look likely to decay.