Children's Dental Health: South Carolina

South Carolina meets six of the eight policy benchmarks aimed at addressing children's dental health needs, one less than it achieved in 2010. The decline reflects that Medicaid rates have slipped relative to dentists' usual fees. Nonetheless, the percent of Medicaid-enrolled children receiving dental services has increased from 46.9 percent to 51.9 percent.

South Carolina provides fluoridated water to 94.4 percent of its residents and has sealant programs in over half of its high-risk schools. In 2010, the state enacted a new law to institute a targeted school-based dental screening and education program in several underserved counties. The law also establishes a “community oral health coordinator” to help connect children with dental treatment needs with a dental provider.¹

1. South Carolina, 118th Session (2009-2010), Act 235. http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess118_2009-2010/bills/286.htm (accessed March 21, 2011).