Ronald McDonald Care Mobile (Dental Care)
American Family Children's Hospital is committed to the welfare of every child in the state, and believes each child deserves the best possible health care service, regardless of his/her family’s financial circumstances.was concerned about how she would be able to afford the dental care she so desperately wanted for her children.
The program is a collaboration between the American Family Children's Hospital, the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Madison and Rockford Health System-Children's Medical Center.- An examination
- X-rays and cleanings
- Fluoride applications
If additional services are necessary - such as sealants (to protect teeth), cavity fillings, simple tooth extractions or stainless steel crowns - a follow-up appointment will be scheduled.
The Rising Costs of Dental Care
A common view of cavities is that they are a natural part of a child growing up, but dental disease is widespread and costly. The Wisconsin Hospital Association estimated that Wisconsin emergency rooms treat over 22,000 patients with dental disease yearly, at a cost of $6.5 million per year. And a 2001-2002 survey by Wisconsin's Department of Health and Family Services found:
- 60.1 perecent of state third-graders had a history of cavities
- 30.8 percent had untreated tooth decay
- 31.1 percent of screened children needed dental care
The U.S. Surgeon General estimated half of the cavities suffered by children in lower-income children go untreated, causing unnecessary pain, dysfunction and school absence.