Wyoming Gets ‘D’ On Kids Dental Health Report Card

Wyoming has improved, but still doesn't get a passing grade in a new national report card that compares how states are doing in providing dental care to children. The Pew Center on the States based the grades on things like availability of tooth sealants, water fluoridation, Medicaid policies that encourage dentists to treat lower-income children, and the number of available dentists. Wyoming earned a 'D', improving on last year's 'F'. Shelly Gehshan with Pew says there's good news in the anticipated effects of health care reform because more Wyoming children will have dental coverage by 2014.

"So, that’s good, except for the fact that this report card shows that states are basically not ready to serve them."

Gehshan says many grades improved over the past year, even in tough budget times, with states finding it worthwhile to get kids to the dentist regularly in order to prevent more serious health problems.

"The fact that 22 states raised their grades over the last year means that it won’t break the bank for states to improve dental health."

The report says Wyoming's lack of dental sealant programs through schools and lack of data on children's dental health contribute to its grade of 'D'. In the Pew report, about half of the states earned 'A' or 'B' grades.