The Cost of Delay: State Dental Policies Fail One in Five Children

An estimated one in five children go without dental care each year. States play a key role in ensuring that low-income children have access to basic, preventive dental care. A new report, The Cost of Delay: State Dental Policies Fail One in Five Children, finds that two-thirds of states are doing a poor job. The report was produced by the Pew Center on the States with support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and the DentaQuest Foundation.

Pew assessed and graded states and the District of Columbia on eight proven policy solutions that ensure dental health and access to care. A 50-state report card shows that just six states earned an “A” and that 36 states received a “C” or lower.