By The Pew Center on the States
Published: February 26, 2010
A study from the Pew Center on the States estimates that one in five children go without dental care each year. Two-thirds of states have inadequate dental policies, failing to provide basic, preventive dental care for needy children, according to the report.
Neglecting children's dental care can have low-term -- and costly -- consequences. The study suggests policy makers consider four solutions that prioritize early, preventive dental care:
* school-based dental sealant programs
* community water fluoridation
* Medicaid improvements that enable and motivate more dentists to treat low-income kids
* innovative workforce models that expand the number of qualified dental providers.
Check out HealthTeacher's
latest newsletter focused on dental health, as well as lesson plans on children's dental health, including basics on
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http://www.pewcenteronthestates.org/report_detail.aspx?id=56870
