History of IDEA
Jeannie Oakes, Founder and Former Director
Youth Voice in School Finance
NEW REPORT: Los Angeles' road to A-G for all
Without Dollars and Sense Powerpoint
Past Educational Opportunity Reports
Kids' dental decay takes a bite out of school attendance
- 02-02-2010
-
By Viji Sundaram/New America Media
The 5-year-old Asian American boy sat in the dentist’s chair in Dr. David Perry’s Alameda, Calif. clinic for over 90 minutes, his teeth drilled without general anesthesia. His extensive tooth decay had also taken a toll on his physical health. The dentist determined that eight of his baby molars needed to be crowned, and six other teeth had to be extracted. His dismal oral health is not unique among kids his age or even younger, notes Dr. Perry. After looking into the mouths of more than 21,000 California children in kindergarten and third grade during the 2004-2005 school year, Perry, then the board chairman of the Oakland-based Dental Health Foundation, and his cohort of dental hygienists, dental assistants and school nurses concluded that almost three out of four children in elementary school have a cavity, compared to about half who are not low income. (more...)
Print this
