Every child deserves a healthy start in life, but when it comes to oral health, many children face significant challenges. Children in low-income families tend to have higher rates of tooth decay and have greater difficulty accessing ongoing basic dental care. Some key points that highlight the severity of the problem include:

• Over 40% - 50% of children will be affected by tooth decay before age 5.  
• Of the 4 million children born each year, more than half will have cavities by the time they reach second grade.  
• While 9 million children in this nation do not have medical insurance, more than twice that number -- 23 million -- do not have dental insurance.  
• Oral health issues affect children in poverty and minorities far more than other groups.  
• According to the May 2000 Surgeon General's report, Oral Health in America, more than 51 million school hours are lost each year to dental-related conditions. 

These statistics are staggering! And they are the very reason HSHC has partnered with the AAPD and the Office of Head Start on the Head Start Dental Home Initiative.

Visit their website for more information http://www.aapd.org/foundation/