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

Accessibility to Dentists Should Be Improved

This includes evening and weekend hours, availability of dentists in all parts of the county, and transportation to help low-income families keep appointments, and to help those in areas with few dentists obtain care without spending hours on a bus.