Some Texas Dentists Bad-Mouth Anti-Cavity Bill — Health and Human Services Commission | The Texas Tribune

Texas Dentists Choose No Dental Care for Poor Kids

Some Texas Dentists Bad-Mouth Anti-Cavity Bill — Health and Human Services Commission | The Texas Tribune: "Jason Sabo, senior vice president for the United Ways of Texas, said the rule that parents must accompany kids to get a Medicaid reimbursement creates an artificial barrier for low-income, working families. “It’s saying, if you want access to dental care, if you want your kids to get sealants, I guess you have to quit your job,” he said. “We live in a world where kids’ teeth are rotting out of their head while they’re trying to take a TAKS test.”"

Dr. Jennifer Bankler, dental health coordinator with the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District, said the goal isn’t to tear kids away from private practices — it’s to get them the help they need. Seven to 10 percent of the children her mobile unit sees have urgent dental needs, she said; many are sitting in class suffering. “These kids are uninsured, underinsured,” she said. “We’re trying to reach those kids that don’t have a dental home, to work with families to help them find a dental home.”