Data reinforces importance of early dental visits and preventive care
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
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.
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Children's dental tips (Graphic: Business Wire)
“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.
About Unum
Unum Group (www.unum.com)
is a leading provider of financial protection benefits in the United
States and the United Kingdom. Its businesses include Unum US, Colonial
Life, and Unum UK and Unum Poland. Unum’s portfolio includes disability,
life, accident and critical illness, dental and vision coverage, which
help protect millions of working people and their families in the event
of an illness or injury. Unum also provides stop-loss coverage to help
self-insured employers protect against unanticipated medical costs. The
company reported revenues of $11.6 billion in 2018 and provided nearly
$7 billion in benefits.
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Brad Carmony 423-294-5238
Toll free: 866-850-8686
Bcarmony@unum.com
Source: Unum Group