They are unable to afford private health insurance but Samuel and Alana both qualify for Medicaid. Ms. Antrican looked for a dentist willing to treat her children for five years before finding someone an hour's drive from her house. In that five years she repeatedly called multiple dentists in her area, contacted local and state authorities, and drew on the help of friends and relatives. Had Ms. Antrican simply been able to find dental care earlier her children's problems could have been either prevented or corrected with simple fillings. One in four children entering kindergarten have untreated dental disease.
Dental decay is one of North Carolina's most common childhood diseases.
Dental disease is much more prevalent in low-income populations and in rural communities without fluoridated water and can lead to serious health problems. The lack of access to basic dental care such as regular cleanings and early screenings results in loss of teeth, later painful and extensive dental work, and serious infections. We need to address this crisis as soon as possible. Many dentists either lose money or just break even when they treat patients with Medicaid. North Carolina knows why low-income children do not get dental care.