Children's Dental Health: Connecticut

Connecticut meets six of the eight policy benchmarks for strengthening children's dental health. The state meets all the same benchmarks that it did last year, although Medicaid payments slid from 86.5 to 78.5 percent of dentists' median fees.

Oral health and children's advocates are exploring the possibility of expanding the dental workforce. A bill to authorize Advanced Dental Hygiene Practitioners was introduced this legislative session,¹ and the Connecticut Dental Association is considering a demonstration project based on the Alaska Dental Health Aide Therapist model.²  

1. Connecticut General Assembly, proposed bill 5616. http://www.cga.ct.gov/2011/TOB/H/2011HB-05616-R00-HB.htm (accessed February 11, 2011).

2. L. Harrison, “Conn. dentists vote to try dental therapists,” Dr. Bicuspid, January 12, 2010 http://www.drbicuspid.com/index.aspx?sec=sup&sub=pmt&pag=dis&ItemID=303614 (accessed February 11, 2011).