Parents scheduling health care appointments in preparation of back-to-school should not forget a visit to the dentist. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that more than 51 million school hours are lost each year due to students’ dental related problems.
“Children with preventable or untreated health and development problems may have trouble concentrating and learning,” says Alycia Rodgers, M.D., American Academy of Pediatrics spokesperson. “When a child has serious tooth decay, it can affect overall health and can lead to problems in eating, speaking and paying attention in class.”
