[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 97 (Thursday, July 10, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7223-S7224]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        CHILDREN'S DENTAL HEALTH

 Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, Disraeli once described the youth 
of a nation as, the trustees of posterity. I interpret that to mean 
that the future promise of any country can be directly measured by the 
present prospects of its young people. Whatever we invest today in 
promoting and protecting our youth will bring a high return in the 
future.
  For that reason, I am pleased that the Senate has taken some first 
steps to address the growing problem of uninsured children.
  I have to say I am still astounded by the fact that this great Nation 
could allow 10 million children to go without health insurance. Just 
think about it. At a time when the economy is sound and unemployment is 
at a 23-year low, one in seven of America's children lack a basic 
protection that every one of us enjoys.
  Uninsured children are less likely to be fully immunized against 
preventable

[[Page S7224]]

illnesses, or to receive care for chronic conditions and injuries. And 
usually whatever care they receive takes place in a hospital emergency 
room--one of the most expensive settings possible.
  As we consider how best to extend health insurance coverage to this 
important segment of the population, I want to call my colleagues' 
attention to one aspect of this problem that is often overlooked. I am 
speaking about the oral health of children.
  For some reason, many of us often fail to realize that oral health is 
an integral part of a person's overall health. Tooth decay and serious 
infections are just some of the chronic health problems that can result 
when oral health is ignored. At the same time, there is a strong 
relationship between oral health and other medical conditions that 
manifest symptoms in the mouth. Regular dental check-ups, or example, 
provide an early warning system for diabetes, certain forms of cancer, 
and immune disorders like AIDS.
  According to the U.S. Public Health Service, dental and oral diseases 
may well be the most prevalent--and preventable--conditions affecting 
children. And while we have seen improvement overall, certain groups of 
children continue to suffer more than their share of oral health 
problems, primarily because of their limited access to oral health 
services. Poor children--usually minority, migrant, and many in rural 
communities--are the ones most seriously affected.
  You might ask ``doesn't Medicaid help these children?'' It should, if 
they happen to be eligible. But while Medicaid accounts for about 80 
percent of public funds spent for oral health, only about 1 percent of 
Medicaid funds are spent on dental care. And as we have heard, many of 
the uninsured children are in working poor families that are just above 
the Medicaid cut-off for eligibility. These children have no protection 
whatsoever.
  The sad irony is that dental care embodies the very qualities that 
make for a good health care system. Unlike medical coverage, which is 
triggered by illness, dental coverage emphasizes prevention. How 
important is that? According to the National Institute of Dental 
Research, every dollar spent on preventive dental care saves $4 in 
treatment costs.
  And dental coverage favors primary care over more expensive 
specialized treatment. Regular checkups mean your local dentist can 
catch and treat problems before they require a specialist.
  One recent study found that persons with dental coverage are almost 
twice as likely to visit a dentist, and more than 70 percent of those 
covered by insurance have annual checkups and receive preventive care.
  All of which is to say, dental coverage for children is not only good 
social policy; it is good economic policy as well.
  If we truly want to extend basic health protection to our children, I 
urge my colleagues to include dental health coverage in any final 
legislation we send to the President.

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