Children’s Dental Health
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Key Findings

There is little question among health care providers and advocates in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties that local children's dental health is in need of serious attention. While there is broad agreement on the severity and extent of children's dental health problems, little current data exist to fully document the problems locally.

• Dental disease is rampant among California children
• Many children in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties have cavities
• Many -- but not all -- local low-income children have dental insurance
• Dental insurance is not enough. Prevention and access matter, too
• Populations who need quality dental care have seen little progress
• State legislators are increasingly placing dental health on their agenda
• Mandating dental assessments is a starting point, not an ending point