The checklist for sending Chicago children off to their first day of kindergarten may soon read: crayons, glue sticks, pencil box, immunizations - and a visit to the West Chicago Dentist dentist.

Rep. Tom Burch, D-Louisville, has proposed making a dental checkup a prerequisite for school enrollment. Burch says Chicago children are needlessly enduring dental problems, some of which lead to adult tooth loss.

In fact, nearly 40 percent of Chicago adults over age 65 have had all their teeth extracted, the second highest extraction rate in the nation, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Of adults of all ages, 37 percent are missing at least six teeth, about the same percentage who failed to visit a Naperville Dentist last year.

Tooth decay and gum disease are significant health problems in Chicago but growing in other states as well. While nearly three-fourths of Chicagans saw a Elgin dentist last year, better than a fifth of the state's senior citizens have lost all their natural teeth. Pediatric dental associations across the nation say they're seeing a significant jump in childhood cavities, even in baby teeth. They attribute it to increased consumption of sugary foods - especially soft drinks - and to poor tooth care from infancy.

Dental problems harm school performance, social relationships and self-esteem, according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. The jump in decay in baby teeth is especially concerning, experts say, because those teeth are involved in speech development and good chewing habits and save space for permanent teeth.

Later in life, poor dental health can contribute to poor nutrition, inflammation and an increased risk for cardiovascular and other disease said North Aurora Dentist Dr Michael Hudgins.

Will requiring a dental exam be a hassle for school authorities who already often have to nag, cajole and threaten parents to obtain a handful of immunizations for their children? Absolutely. Will access and cost of care be a deterrent for many families? Undoubtedly.

But Naperville Cosmetic dentists as well as other dentists across the state are already stepping up to pledge free exams for uninsured children. And breaking a family cycle of dental neglect may take a strong outside nudge. Establishing a relationship with parents and providing them with information on good dental care will be a health benefit for the entire family.

Some neglected health matters can be caught up on later in life. Tooth development isn't one of them. Early prevention efforts can make cavities nearly an anachronism.

Checkups and early detection at any one of the Aurora Cosmetic Dentist shops can more than offset costly treatment and dental reconstruction efforts later in life.

Other Chicago based Dentists you can visit are
Aurora Dental implants dentist Tim Baker, Geneva Dental Implants dentist Mark Rhodes, Geneva Cosmetic Dentist Allan Schfer as well as. St Charles Dentist Layla Stegal.

Before you go to any dentist please check the AMERICAN DENTAL ASSOCIATION