Barriers to Oral Health Care Access
Posted By Administrator
Date: February 10th, 2010
Category: Dental Care
The dental components in Medicaid and SCHIP, which are supposed to provide health care to disadvantaged Americans, are chronically underfunded. Federal law mandates that Medicaid cover basic preventive and restorative services. But many state programs fail to deliver care to even half of their eligible children. Adult dental coverage through public health programs is even worse; many states simply don’t provide it. Taking care of yourself is a critical component of oral health, and too many Americans lack a basic understanding of preventive oral health, things like brushing, flossing, eating a healthy diet and drinking fluoridated water. About one-third of public water systems are not fluoridated, yet it is the single most effective public health measure to protect against tooth decay.