Children’s Dental Health
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Issues/Needs: Service & Information Gaps

• There are too few dentists willing and able to sedate children
• Not enough providers accept Denti-Cal
• Prevention messages to children and parents are insufficient
• Regular oral exams and preventive measures need to begin earlier
• Spanish- and Vietnamese-speaking providers are in short supply
• Disabled and special needs children face unmet dental care needs
• Strengthened coordination is needed
• Accessibility to dentists should be improved

Disabled and Special Needs Children Face Unmet Dental Care Needs

These children may be more prone to dental disease than others, and there are fewer dentists trained and willing to provide the specialized and more time-consuming care that they may need.

A new First 5-funded collaboration in San Mateo County among the local United Cerebral Palsy Association, Children's Health Initiative, and local providers is designed to help address this need.