Talk to your teen

To the Editor:

Motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death among adolescents and young adults in the U.S.  Here in Kentucky, statistics from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet show that drivers between the ages of 15 and 20 were involved in more than 26,000 collisions in 2008, resulting in 141 fatalities. Seventy-percent of those killed were teenagers. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, 16-year-old drivers are more than twice as likely to be involved in fatal crashes as older drivers. 

As we observe National Teen Driver Safety Week October 18-24, I ask that you join me in encouraging teens to drive more safely.  Observed annually during the third week in October, National Teen Driver Safety Week is a time to bring teens, parents, educators, legislators and other community leaders together to help prevent teen crashes, injuries and fatalities.

Vehicle crashes killed more than 7,300 youth nationwide in 2007. There are several factors that contribute to these troubling statistics. Driver error and or speeding are the leading causes of teen driver crashes. Additionally, the use of cell phones, texting, food and beverage consumption and loud music are also key components in teen vehicle crashes. In fact, a recent study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that driver distraction contributes to 25% of all police-reported traffic crashes.

By encouraging teenage drivers to adopt safe driving habits, manage peer-to-peer interactions while in a vehicle and reinforcing the need to detect and react to hazards more appropriately, they will be better prepared to drive responsibly. We must reinforce the idea that once a vehicle is in motion, the driver must devote his or her full attention to the task at hand, which is operating the vehicle safely.

The hundreds of young lives lost on Kentucky highways, and thousands nationwide, represent far more than just statistics. These are sons and daughters and brothers and sisters whose families will never again cheer their loved ones on from the sidelines of a sporting event or experience the pride and joy of watching them walk across the stage at graduation.

Please take this opportunity to talk to your teens about safe driving habits. No family should have to incur the heartache that so many families across the country feel every year. 

Sincerely,

Jack Conway

Kentucky Attorney General

Committed to smiles

To the Editor:

Kentucky faces a health issue that many of us don’t typically think about – too many of our children have untreated dental problems. Estimates are that half of the state’s children have decay in their primary teeth. This has broader implications than kids needing fillings or having teeth removed. Dental problems involving pain and infection are one of the main reasons for missed school days.

The University of Louisville and University of Kentucky are committed to improving oral health in children throughout the state. New federal and state grant funding announced this week by Governor Beshear will bring together the two research universities to develop a curriculum that teaches current general dentists competencies in treating young children, as most dentists not specializing in pediatric dentistry receive limited training in working with patients younger than age 6. The curriculum will include seminars, web-based modules and clinical observation; our goal is for every child in Kentucky to have a dental home.

Each dental school plays a significant role in meeting oral health needs of the state’s children. UofL and UK have a long-standing commitment to community service. The UofL School of Dentistry is involved in more than 90 community service programs, resulting in nearly 75,000 community contacts per year. UofL serves children in Jefferson and surrounding counties the first Friday in February through the Smile Kentucky program. Faculty, students and staff volunteer in this one-day effort, touching the lives of more than 330 children annually. Since 2007, UofL has taken part in Remote Area Medical (RAM) events in the rural Grayson, Knott and Pike Counties. Students and faculty provide free cleanings, fillings, extractions and dentures for patients of all ages.

UK College of Dentistry is just as committed to meeting the needs of the Commonwealth, treating thousands of children in as many as 49 counties in Kentucky for more than 20 years through its outreach programs using mobile vans and fixed base clinical sites. UK is a leader in the Kentucky Oral Health Network with developed partnerships in 49 counties providing dental faculty, education and care. The College of Dentistry has also provided extensive experience in curriculum development. Other programs like the Saturday Morning Children's Dental Clinic serve underprivileged children age 12 and younger in the Lexington/Fayette County area.

UofL and UK join efforts during the Kentucky Special Olympics through the Special Athletes/Special Smiles program. Faculty, staff and students of both schools provide leadership and volunteer time administering screenings, health education and dental sealants. The two schools also collaborate to create and post content through CECentral, a UK entity that provides a unique online resource for numerous professionals including dentists.

Through the hard work of our two dental schools, every part of the state is touched. Working together to address the oral health needs of children is good for the Commonwealth. Research shows that oral health is an integral part of overall well-being, and working with the Governor’s office, UofL and UK will lead the way in helping Kentucky have a healthier citizenry.

University of Louisville School of Dentistry Dean John J. Sauk, DDS, MS

University of Kentucky College of Dentistry Dean Sharon P. Turner, DDS, JD