IMAGE: Parents report improvements in their child’s oral health habits during the pandemic. view more
Credit: CS Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Child Health at Michigan Medicine.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – A third of parents say COVID-19 pandemic disease has made it difficult to get dental care for their children, a new national poll suggests.
But some families may face greater challenges than others. Inability to get a dental appointment during the pandemic was three times as common for children with Medicaid versus those with private dental coverage, according to the CS Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Child Health at Michigan Medicine.
“Regular preventative dental care helps keep children’s teeth healthy and allows providers to deal with any tooth decay or dental problems before they become more dangerous,” says Mott Poll co-director Sarah Clark, MPH
“Our findings highlight how the pandemic may affect family dental care and the potential differences among those with insurance barriers.”
Some parents tried to keep their child’s regular dental checkups going, just to find a long wait time for prescribing, Clark says. Others found that the dental office had closed or reduced patient visits to emergencies.
But a Mott Poll report also revealed a money line: One in four parents described improvements in how their children care for their teeth and gums at home during the pandemic- spread.
The national representative report is based on responses from 1,882 parents with at least one child aged 3-18.
Clark talks more about Mott Poll’s decisions and family dental care recommendations below:
1 in 3 parents cite challenges in receiving preventative dental care
The American Association of Pediatric Dentists recommends that children receive regular dental cleanings and tests every six months, beginning when their first tooth comes in. Inspections provide a regular opportunity to identify and treat tooth decay, to apply protective treatments such as sealants and fluoride varnish. , and to educate parents and children about good dental hygiene.
But to protect patients and staff, some dental offices have modified or restricted their work to limit the release of COVID-19.
Sixty percent of parents in the census have tried to get preventative dental care for their child since the outbreak began. Although most got a meeting in the usual timeframe, 24% were delayed, and 7% were unable to get a meeting at all.
Overall, one in three parents (32%) feel that COVID-19 has made it more difficult to get protective dental care for their child.
Clark says the challenge for parents during the pandemic has been to keep up with the dramatic changes in schedules and work, from schools to stores to health care providers.
“Parents who have not been able to get a dental prescription for their child should check back with their regular dentist, as long waiting times or patient restrictions may have changed,” she says.
COVID-19 safety concerns May delay care
This Mott Poll suggests that some parents are concerned about the risk of COVID-19 appearing during a dental visit and are delaying the appointment of a dentist for their child.
Most parents who did not try to arrange preventative dental care for their child during the pandemic reported COVID-related causes. Some 40% do not want to be open risk, and 23% say the dentist ‘s office was closed or just seeing emergency patients.
Other parents say they did not call an appointment because their child was not the result of dental care or had no dental problems.
Most parents (67%) think it is safe for their child to receive dental care at this stage of the pandemic, with 14% feeling it is dangerous and 19% unsure.
Clark advises parents who are concerned about COVID exposure to contact their child’s dentist to learn about the types of warnings that have been applied. These can include patient and staff screening and temperature checks, and patients waiting in their cars rather than the waiting room.
“It may be helpful for dental providers to be proactive in reminding parents of the importance of regular dental checkups for children,” she says. “Reminder messages may help. and website updates that explain changes in user activity more parents feel safe bringing children in for the trip. “
Insurance barriers increase access to dental health
Barriers to dental appointments were more common for children with Medicaid dental coverage compared to those with private dental insurance.
Among parents who tried to bring their child in for protective dental care, 15% of parents of children with Medicaid dental coverage said they were unable to get a prescription, compared to 4% of those with private dental insurance and 5% had no coverage.
Clark notes that, even outside of the pandemic, these children have difficulty finding a dentist, as many providers do not accept Medicaid payments. Some children receive preventative dental services through school or public dental clinics, but these services have declined at the time of the pandemic.
Among parents who did not attempt to schedule a preventative dentistry, cost was the reason for 23% of parents who did not have dental insurance, compared with very few of those with private coverage or Medicaid.
“Insurance barriers could lead to unequal opportunities for families to access dental care that is critical to keeping their children’s teeth healthy,” Clark says.
1 in 4 parents see improvements in children’s oral health practices
An unexpected finding from the Mott Poll report was that a quarter of parents reported improvements in their child’s oral health habits at the time of the pandemic.
This included more frequent squeezing (16%), flossing (11%) and the use of fluoride flow (9%), and fewer sugary drinks (15%).
Overall, 28% of parents say their child has made at least one positive change, including more parents of children with Medicaid (37%) or no dental coverage (32%) compared to private dental insurance (24%).
“We were thrilled to find parents reporting positive changes in how their children care for their teeth at home,” says Clark. “There is daily pressure and flossing and Avoiding sugary drinks are important ways to prevent tooth decay.
“Parents who do not have their child receiving regular dental checkups should take extra steps to improve daily oral health practices, especially if there is a delay or concern about regular dental care,” she said.
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