IMPORTANCE OF BABY TEETH Q: How important can baby teeth be? They just fall out on their own. A: It is a misconception that baby teeth are not important and, further, the misconception often leads to an overall disregard for dental care when it comes to young children. Baby teeth with decay, however, can infect emerging permanent teeth, resulting in the need for a filling or extraction, according to the dentistry professor at Case Westem Reserve University School of Dental Medicine in Cleveland who is leading a $1.6 million study aimed at encouraging parents and caregivers for children from kindergarten through fourth grade to seek dental care for them. The Case researchers are working with colleagues from the University of Washington Northwest Center to Reduce Oral Health Disparities in Seattle. The study is funded by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research and will generate educational material designed to convince the 660 parents and caregivers targeted in the study to take steps to protect the oral health of their your charges. In prior research that led to the new study, only 20 percent of parents who were told their young children needed dental treatment actually took their children to a dentist. The fact is that decayed baby teeth can have a negative effect on emerging permanent teeth. Talk with your dentist for more information on the importance of baby teeth and of dental care for infants, toddlers and other youngsters. Presented as a service to the community by Dr. Barbara Webster 1121 Warren Ave., Suite 130, Downers Grove, IL 60515 630-663-0554 SM-CL2088001 IMPORTANCE OF BABY TEETH Q : How important can baby teeth be ? They just fall out on their own . A : It is a misconception that baby teeth are not important and , further , the misconception often leads to an overall disregard for dental care when it comes to young children . Baby teeth with decay , however , can infect emerging permanent teeth , resulting in the need for a filling or extraction , according to the dentistry professor at Case Westem Reserve University School of Dental Medicine in Cleveland who is leading a $ 1.6 million study aimed at encouraging parents and caregivers for children from kindergarten through fourth grade to seek dental care for them . The Case researchers are working with colleagues from the University of Washington Northwest Center to Reduce Oral Health Disparities in Seattle . The study is funded by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research and will generate educational material designed to convince the 660 parents and caregivers targeted in the study to take steps to protect the oral health of their your charges . In prior research that led to the new study , only 20 percent of parents who were told their young children needed dental treatment actually took their children to a dentist . The fact is that decayed baby teeth can have a negative effect on emerging permanent teeth . Talk with your dentist for more information on the importance of baby teeth and of dental care for infants , toddlers and other youngsters . Presented as a service to the community by Dr. Barbara Webster 1121 Warren Ave. , Suite 130 , Downers Grove , IL 60515 630-663-0554 SM - CL2088001