Dental Museum Maryland's Children Benefit from Dental School Advocacy by Rosalia Scalia J asmine is normally a bright and attentive third-grader. But today she rests her head on her desk, her face swollen. The school nurse has seen these symptoms before, and a quick examination reveals signs of another cavity. A high-sugar diet and inadequate dental care put Jasmine at risk for cavities and dental abscesses. She is by no means alone.
Dental care is a critical problem among the nation's poor children.
According to a 1996 U.S. Inspector General's Report, fewer than 20 percent of Medicaid-eligible children receive dental care. Despite being the fifth-wealthiest state, Maryland performs poorly in pediatric dental care. Moreover, only 17 percent of the 230,000 children enrolled in the state's Medicaid program see a dentist on a yearly basis. Children whose teeth hurt can't concentrate on their schoolwork and they have a hard time eating. The problem can affect an entire family, especially when parents stay up at night with a child in pain.