Increasing Pediatric Access to Dental Care
Dental care has recently been identified as the most prevalent unmet health need for children. Low-income and minority children and those with special health care needs are at greatest risk of inadequate access and poor oral health. Not surprisingly, uninsured children are half as likely as insured children to receive dental care. Even with Medicaid, fewer than one in five children received a single dental visit in a recent year-long study. More than 51 million school hours are lost each year to dental-related illness, and pain from these untreated diseases can lead to problems in eating, speaking and learning.
How Washington Appleseed is Helping
In 2006, Washington Appleseed collaborated with dental health specialists to improve access to dental care for underserved children and increase awareness of the importance of dental health both in schools and in homes. Appleseed supported legislation to increase the Medicaid reimbursement rates for dental providers and supported legislation to fluoridate water systems in cities throughout Washington State.