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In an effort believed unique in the United States, dentistry and public health experts are teaming with state dental health staff to try to cut tooth decay among the state's youngest children.
Carolina faculty are starting a project in nine western N.C. counties that will involve painting fluoride varnish on the teeth of children as young as 9 months. Those counties are Avery, Burke, Cherokee, Graham, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford and Yancey. Others likely will follow.
Because of an acute shortage of pediatric dentists in most of North Carolina, access to care for children with early, severe tooth decay remains a significant problem, said James A. Bawden, Alumni Distinguished professor of pediatric dentistry.
N.C. Department of Health and Human Services employees will help with the project, which is chiefly funded by the Appalachian Regional Commission. The N.C. Partnership for Children, also known as Smart Start, will administer it.
The North Carolina program should begin in early summer. Funding is being sought to expand the effort to all 100 counties.
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