Fluoridation is state-mandated in Kentucky

Thursday, December 29, 2005

Poor youths lack dental care
Medicaid a barrier in state, study says
By Deborah Yetter
dyetter@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal
About 338,000 Kentucky children covered by Medicaid never saw a dentist last year -- despite the state's high rate of tooth decay in youngsters, according to a study released yesterday. The study by Kentucky Youth Advocates found virtually no improvement from its similar study two years ago, which examined dental care for low-income children covered by the government health plan.
"This data shows Kentucky still has not made dental health care a priority," said Lacey McNary, the study's author. Kentucky's director of dental health, Dr. James Cecil, said that's a serious problem because tooth and gum disease is linked to strokes, cardiovascular disease and low birth weight or premature babies.
Kentucky ranks high in those areas, too, he said. "Poor oral health is contributing to general unhealthfulness," he said.