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Can a Toothache Cause a Heartache?
Have you ever lay awake at night with a toothache? Many children do! Tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease – 53% of all 6-8 year old Americans and 84% of all 17 year old Americans already have had tooth decay. What happens when these children are unable to see a dentist because of lack of funds, lack of transportation, lack of providers for those on public aid, or just plain ignorance of the importance of good oral health? Give Kids A Smile is a national initiative by the American Dental Association to focus attention on the epidemic of untreated oral disease among disadvantaged children. In 2006, nearly 40,000 dental professionals and volunteers will provide free educational, preventive and restorative dental services to children from low income families at 2,000 locations across the country. One of those locations was in my backyard at the Southern Illinois University Dental School in Alton, Illinois.
Last Saturday, I was there volunteering. I was in the screening department where I saw firsthand the depth of these children’s dental neglect and heard stories of the trials and tribulation of seeking dental care for them. One of my patients, Sam (not his real name) age 4, appeared with a severe case of bottle mouth syndrome, coupled with health complications of Hunter’s syndrome. His foster mother has been trying to seek help for months but is caught in a Catch 22 cycle and Sam still suffers. I shake my head, reach out with compassion, and take him under my wing. Sadly, I remember what happened last year when I was an escort for the day and grew attached to Billy (not his real name).
His father drove him three hours to participate in the program. Screening revealed bottle mouth caries in each one of his primary teeth. His father had no clue as to the condition or the cause of his son’s decay because he had just been released from prison and was not around when Billy was younger. I didn’t know anything about the mother.
Billy’s next stop was radiology where a panorex was taken and then we were off to oral surgery. Gosh, my heart was really aching. It took four doctors and me at Billy’s feet to hold him down. The dentist in charge administered the anesthesia, then he was extracting. One, two, three,….seven, eight,……eleven, twelve,…..fourteen primary teeth, gone in a matter of minutes. The nitrous was useless, Billy was a sobbing basket case, and my heart was crying.
Billy left his home that morning on a bus ride to the city and an opportunity to see the dentist. He left with no upper teeth, no posterior lower teeth, and only six remaining lower anterior teeth so that he could at least have “something” to eat with. The surgeon went out to speak with dad when it was all over and I was there comforting Billy.
Oh yes, I forgot to tell you that Billy was only 4 years old.
I went out to check on Billy a little while later, but he and his father had left. They had three more hours to go home. Soon, it was my turn to leave, with a saddened heart, heavy with the emotions of seeing so many children in need of dental care and so little time to help.
I wonder how Billy is feeling today and what lies in store for him in the future. You were a real trooper buddy. I hope your experience does not scare you away from the dentist as you grow older. We truly care about you.
What happened to Sam? I spoke with Dr. Donald Huebner, a pediatric dentist on staff at Children’s Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. who is working to establish a program at the hospital to treat these special needs children who happen to live in Illinois, so they can cross the river into Missouri and get the care they so desperately need. Help is coming very soon, mom, and Dr. Huebner will be contacting you.
Take a few minutes this week to open your heart to a patient in need. Non-dentists, extend your hand and heart to your friends and neighbors.
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