Should US Schools Provide Dental Care To Students?

I found an interesting article about schools providing a  dental health safety net at Ed Source

There are some really interesting statistics in that article.  For example:

1. Children with dental health issues are 12 time more likely to miss class  due to a dental health issue than students with great dental care. 

2.  Children with poor dental health care are 4 times more likely to get lower grades!  

This article focuses on the State of California.   There even appears to be a state mandated program for dental health screenings.  But, there is no funding for the programs, so they are overlooked - apparently.

Their seems to be some underlying assumptions or expectations as well.

Should students be given dental care as part of the regular school program?   I bet a lot of parents would be happy about that!   

The burden of costs for such programs would likely be very high and California is already having a hard time keeping everything going with their education programs  - as is the rest of the country.  

Where is the balance between ever increasing expectations of things for free and how much tax payers must shell out?    Seems to me we already have financial issues in this country.  Are we going to make them worse? 

On the other hand, who would be willing to stand up and say they are against what amounts to 'universal dental care' for school aged students?  

Medi-Cal appears to be California's attempt to provide affordable dental care to poor children and it sounds like it has been dubbed a failure.  They are having a hard time getting enough dental health providers to accept Medi-Cal students because the program doesn't pay enough.  

This brings up an interesting point.   Government programs are very costly.  Even when in place, it appears that children are still having trouble getting adequate care. 

Is it possible for family's and individuals to increase their odds of preventing costly dental health procedures?   Such a possibility could potentially relieve the burden on such programs and protect the students themselves.  

Share your thoughts and comments in the comment section below.  

Do not overlook / forget about dental health problem prevention.  Many expensive dental procedures could be avoided in the first place, if individuals and families  were more educated about prevention.   My favorite.  

 Sincerely,

David Snape
ToothyGrinsStore.com
1-888-586-6849

PS:  Get your free guides on fighting gum disease and stopping bad breath  

PPS: prevention can also help a lot in reducing an individual's or family's health care costs.  My favorite prevention tool.