By: Richard L. Smith
Info Credit: CDC/ADA
In just over a month, students across Newark and New Jersey will be heading back to school.
Yup, parents will soon be filling shopping carts with notebooks, pencils, backpacks, calculators, folders, sneakers, and everything else needed for a successful school year.
As a retired New Jersey public school teacher, this time of year always brought a sense of excitement for me.
Preparing my classroom, putting together school supply lists, and getting ready to welcome students back was something I looked forward to every August.
During my over two decades career at Arts High School in Newark, I saw firsthand how important it was for students to walk into class feeling confident and ready to learn.
But there is one important back-to-school item that often gets overlooked. Yeah, A dental checkup.
A fresh cleaning, a routine examination, and making sure everything is healthy before the school year begins can make a real difference. A child who isn't dealing with tooth pain or other dental issues is much better prepared to focus in the classroom instead of being distracted by discomfort.
Growing up in Newark, my family didn't always have easy access to dental care. 
Like many of my friends I grew ip with and families, we simply didn't have the resources, and finding a convenient dental office wasn't as easy as it is today.
Looking back, I wish routine dental visits had been something we could have done more often because oral health truly is a part of overall health. I’m honestly paying for it now.
Today, families have many more options throughout Newark and North Jersey.
Personally, I recommend Confident Smile Dental on Broadway in Newark because of the great care they provide, but there are many excellent dental professionals throughout our region who can help get children ready for the school year.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in its July 9, 2024 guidance on managing oral health in schools, cavities remain the most common chronic disease of childhood.
The CDC also notes that poor oral health can negatively affect a child's quality of life, school performance, and long-term success.
The agency says preventive care, including regular dental visits and services such as sealants, can help protect children's oral health and reduce cavities. (CDC)
The CDC also reports that routine dental visits allow dentists to provide preventive care, educate families about oral health, and identify problems before they become more serious.
Data from the National Survey of Children's Health found that about 75% of children between the ages of 1 and 17 had visited a dentist within the previous year, highlighting the importance of maintaining regular checkups. (CDC)
The American Dental Association (ADA) encourages parents to include a dental appointment as part of their back-to-school rou
tine.
The organization says these visits allow dentists to catch potential problems early, perform professional cleanings, evaluate developing teeth, and discuss preventive treatments such as dental sealants, which can significantly reduce the risk of cavities. (ADA)
So while you're checking off that school supply list over the next few weeks, consider adding one more item. Schedule your child's dental appointment.
It's a small investment of time that can help your child begin the school year with a healthy smile, greater confidence, and one less thing to worry about once they step back into the classroom.
Here's wishing every student across Newark and New Jersey a safe, healthy, and successful school year.