Noting that recent studies suggesting that caregivers' health literacy may play a critical role in the health outcomes of their children, researchers at the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill sought to verify this using actual claims data. Researchers tested the health literacy of a group of low-income, mostly female caregivers and clients receiving assistance from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). These 1,132 child-caregiver dyads had their health literacy measured using two different statistically valid instruments. Researchers then looked at Medicaid medical, hospital and dental claims filed in 2008-2010, separating out dental services that were preventative, restorative or emergency care. Results indicated that expenditures for emergency care were consistently higher among caregivers with low health literacy. In addition,
Analysis of data among this cohort indicates that prevention of emergency dental visits could have resulted in savings of $47,126 for the 95 children who received these services over the 3-year time period.
While the authors of this study note that the association between health literacy level and children's oral-health-related expenditures was deemed modest (Divaris, Gizlice, Baker & Lee, 2013), it bears consideration given the growing body of evidence in this area.
An even more compelling reason stands out in my mind: prevent unnecessary suffering, especially in children. The more stress children face, whether it be dental health related or other sources, the harder it is to learn. Not just in school, but in life as a whole. And if the US had the good sense that most other developed countries do, basic health care, including dental care, would be treated as a human right, not a privilege of those who can afford it. Parents who are struggling to make ends meet would not have to take time off from work in order to seek emergency care for their child or children when such time off may cost them hours of pay. When employees take time off in this way, it hurts productivity, which in turn costs businesses money. It is time we replaced our tattered and failing "social safety net" with basic health care (including dental care) for all. If other countries can make it work, why couldn't we make it work better?
Reference
Divaris, K., Gizlice, Z., Baker, A. D., & Lee, J. Y. (2013). Caregivers' Health Literacy and Their Young Children's Oral-health-related Expenditures. Journal of Dental Research, 92(7), S55-62. doi: 10.1177/0022034513484335