When and how often should children see the dentist? Unum finds parents aren’t sure

Data reinforces importance of early dental visits and preventive care

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (Feb. 12, 2019) — More than half of parents (56 percent) believe a child should first visit the dentist after age 2, though dental professionals recommend a visit when a baby’s first tooth emerges, or by age 1, according to recent research from employee benefits provider Unum (NYSE: UNM). Additionally, 36 percent of parents think young children (ages 3 to 12) should visit the dentist once a year at most, but dentists recommend a bi-annual check-up. These findings and others were part of a recent Unum survey of 730 parents during the American Dental Association’s National Children’s Dental Health Month.

“Dentists can help identify and treat oral problems that could hinder a child’s development,” said Unum Dental Director Jim Di Marino, DDS. “Regular dental appointments and good oral hygiene decrease the risk that a child may need more intensive dental work in grade school.”  

According to the Unum study, most parents (90 percent) were on track in believing children should brush their teeth at least twice a day, but recent research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates parents may be overdoing it on the amount of toothpaste their little ones are using. Toothpaste contains fluoride, which prevents cavities, but if young children ingest too much, it can discolor and pit permanent teeth. The CDC recommends children younger than 3 years old use an amount the size of a rice grain, and children ages 3 to 6 years old use a pea-sized amount.

Unum added dental coverage to the company’s comprehensive portfolio of workplace benefits in 2017. Unum dental plans include a national network of more than 109,000 dentists and specialists at 400,000 access points nationwide, flexible plan designs and digital tools, including a mobile app and dental cost estimator, to help ease the costs of oral care.