Kentucky has made progress in ensuring low-income children receive dental services, yet much work remains to improve children's oral health in the state, according to the 2011 County Data Book, released November 29 by Kentucky Youth Advocates (KYA).
This is the 21st annual release of the data book, part of the Kentucky Kids Count project. The project monitors progress for Kentucky's 1 million children on more than 100 measures of child well-being, including health, safety, economic well-being, and education.
An opening essay in this year's edition outlines improvement efforts under way in Kentucky and offers recommendations for next steps to change the oral health landscape. Kentucky has made some progress, seen by the increase in children enrolled in the Kentucky Children's Health Insurance Program or Medicaid who received dental services -- from 38% in 2001 to 57% in 2010, according to KYA.
However, the state recently received a C grade for its ability to provide oral healthcare to children, and nearly one in three Kentucky children suffer from problems such as cavities and bleeding gums, according to a report from the Pew Center for the States.
"There is no shortage of opportunities to improve children's oral health in Kentucky -- it's simply a matter of making them a priority. For instance, we can expand oral health services in schools to reach children where they are for treatment, prevention, and education," said Jim Cecil, DMD, MPH, former Kentucky state dental director. "We also need to improve our statewide data collection systems on oral health to make sure our efforts are not only targeted, but bearing fruit."
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