Statistics released by the Pew Center have confirmed that the number of children that regularly see a dentist is at an all-time low. At least 1 in 5 children don’t visit their dentist once a year, according to the survey.
The survey also revealed that a number of states did not offer an acceptable standard of dental care and people were being left without the treatment they needed. Only six states received an ‘A’ grade which constituted that they met at least six of the eight requirements set out by the Pew Center on the States. The benchmarks include categories such as Medicaid provision, the availability of fluoridated water and dental health initiatives in schools.
The results of the survey were shocking, with the majority of states achieving only a ‘C’ grade, which translates to the fulfilment of only half of the eight benchmarks and a staggering nine states receiving a ‘D’ grade, which means they only fulfilled one or two of the Pew Center criteria.
The survey is geared towards the provision of preventive dental care across America; each year, people spend thousands of dollars on treatments that could have been avoided if they had looked after their teeth earlier on in their lives and had access to screening programmes and preventive treatments such as dental sealant programmes. Offering affordable healthcare to children and teaching them about how to keep their teeth and gums healthy will pay dividends in the future, as they will be less likely to need expensive, complex treatments further down the line.
Access to fluoridated water is also important as it protects the enamel surface of the teeth and subsequently helps to prevent tooth decay; according to the survey, only 26 states met the criteria for access to fluoridated water by ensuring that 75 percent of their citizens had fluoridated water supplies.
The most concerning statistic for Government health representatives is the number of states that are not providing affordable dental care, with only 25 states offering an acceptable level of Medicaid treatment. Children’s dental healthcare has suffered the most, with many children going without the treatment they need, as parents struggle to afford dentist’s fees. Some states have excelled in this area and made a conscious effort to radically increase the number of Medicaid patients treated; however, on a national level, the statistics still show a glaring lack in the provision of reduced price care.
