Children’s Dental Health
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Key Findings

• 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

Many -- But Not All -- Low-Income Children Locally Have Dental Insurance

There are still tens of thousands of uninsured children altogether in the two counties. At least five in six Santa Clara and San Mateo county children ages 2-17 and infants with teeth were covered by dental insurance in 2005 (89 percent in Santa Clara and 83 percent in San Mateo). This is higher than the state rate of 79 percent, thanks, to some degree, to the fact that San Mateo and Santa Clara counties launched Children's Health Initiatives in 2003 and 2001, respectively, which help to secure health care coverage (including dental coverage) for all children, including those who are undocumented.