New York lagging behind in dental care
New York is widely regarded as one of the most cosmopolitan and vibrant cities in the world, but a recent study has shown that the younger residents of the Big Apple do not have access to an acceptable dental healthcare service.
The study, which was conducted by the Pew Center on the States, was released recently and granted New York a ‘C’ grade for its children dental healthcare policies. The study focused on eight specific areas of child dental care, including access to fluoridated water, ac
cess to Medicaid dental care and the availability of preventive dental health measures.
New York was found to only satisfy half of the criteria set out by the Pew Center; the area has subsequently come under fire for failing children, especially in terms of access to Medicaid treatment, which is particularly disappointing. According to the report, parents in the area are currently struggling to find treatment at a suitable cost for their children as the number of Medicaid providers is much lower than it should be and the funding is far too low.
Authorities in the area have suggested that they are having trouble coaxing dentists away from the inner city and are subsequently struggling to provide a comprehensive service across the entire region. A dentist from the North Country Children’s Clinic said that dentists were reluctant to leave the bright lights and high salaries of the city to work in the more rural areas.
According to the study, access to fluoridated water and access to preventive care also need to be increased considerably. Fluoride helps to protect the enamel surface of the teeth, which makes the teeth more resistant to decay and cavities. Preventive care is being actively marketed by the American government as a means of reducing costs and improving national standards of oral health in the future; targeting children will help them to develop good habits, which they can pass on to future generations. Examples of the preventive measures being implemented in community dental care include sealant programmes to protect the teeth and educational initiatives to encourage children to take care of their teeth and teach them about oral hygiene and nutrition.
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