Children's Dental Health: Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania meets three of eight policy benchmarks aimed at addressing children's dental health needs, an improvement since 2010. The state now provides Medicaid reimbursements to medical providers for preventive dental health services, such as fluoride varnish.

In Pennsylvania, Temple University is overseeing a pilot program to train students to work as dental community health workers in urban areas. The program is one of several Community Dental Health Coordinator pilots that are being supported by the American Dental Association.¹ In the area of fluoridation, Pennsylvania continues to lag, providing fluoridated water to just over half of its citizens.

1. “AHCCCS April 1, 2011 Provider Rate Reductions,” November 22, 2010; 1. “First Group of Community Dental Health Coordinators Complete ADA Pilot Program,” American Dental Association News, November 4, 2010, , http://www.ada.org/5030.aspx (accessed January 20, 2011).