OP/ED: Greater-Manchester Area a Leader in Children's Oral Health Care

By Kevin D. Wilson, DMD

It’s hard to believe that a decade ago the oral health of the residents of Manchester ranked below the national average. Low-income and even working families faced challenges in their understanding of the importance of children’s oral health and in access to care. The estimated impact to the community in terms of missed days of school and work was sobering.

Today, Manchester is regarded as a leader in creating an effective system of children’s oral health care and an example for other communities both in and beyond New Hampshire.

At a time when we hear of so many challenges facing the city in meeting the needs of its diverse population, it’s important to recognize and celebrate the success we’ve had in addressing this problem.

The first major step was in adding fluoride to the city’s municipal drinking water 3Ž4 a simple affordable action that has reduced tooth decay in Manchester’s children by 60 percent.

The next big step was implementing a coordinated plan between nonprofit organizations and health care providers to offer dental clinics in schools and in neighborhoods to make sure that no child would suffer from the lack of access to good dental care, regardless of income or location.

Organizations such as Catholic Medical Center, Easter Seals New Hampshire, Small Smiles Dental Centers, which provides dental care to children in underserved and low-income communities, and the City of Manchester Health Department joined with area schools to raise the level of awareness on the importance of good oral hygiene and good nutrition for children. They implemented care coordination to make sure kids used the services that are available to them.

Last week, dentists throughout the rest of New Hampshire and the nation participated in “Give Kids A Smile Day,” offering free dental care to children who don’t have access to it regularly. But in Manchester, dentists no longer need to host open-door clinics, because the system now in place makes every day Give Kids a Smile Day in the Queen City.

Sure there’s still more to do, but the key to Manchester’s success lies creating a system where everyone brings resources to the table, be it from the dental community, government, health care providers or nonprofits. 

Manchester’s small investment in good oral health has huge payoffs for our families and our workforce. We know that oral health is vital to good health overall and kids with healthy teeth do better in school, and are not afraid to smile. It makes sense that with this strong foundation they’ll be headed for a better start in the world of work too.

On a statewide basis, however, New Hampshire still has a long way to go.

While our state ranks among the top fivestates in the nation in terms of oral health, we have gaps in our care system. We rank near the bottom in access to fluoridated drinking water, and many programs providing dental check ups to the elderly and other at-risk populations are not fully funded.

That said, the progress we are making isnotable. It goes to show that when we decide to solve a problem in America, and everyone from the local dentist to the members of the school board rolls uptheir sleeves, the work gets done.

There is no reason why a great city likeManchester, or a great state like New Hampshire should settle for anything but world-class oral health for its residents.  

Kevin D. Wilson, DMD is president of the New Hampshire Dental Society and practices in Milford.