The Pew Center on the States says 1 in 5 children gets NO dental care, and others get only the minimum.
Shelly Gahshan, the director of the Pew Children's Dental Campaign, says, "The Pew report grades all 50 states on 4 things - how well they prevent the problems in the first place. Are they providing access to care. What they are doping to provide access to providers. And whether they track their progress."
In their report, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware all got "F's".
33 states and the District of Columbia got "C" or below. Only 6 states got "A" grades.
In fact, the report said Delaware ranked last for giving dental care to low-income children.
The group says the $106 billion dollars expected to be spent in 2010 includes many expensive restorative procedures that could have been prevented with basic dental screenings and cleanings.
The Pew center recommends more school-based programs, putting fluoride in more public water systems, and getting more hygienists and even primary care doctors involved in giving preventive care.
See more of the report at Pew Children's Dental Campaign.
