Protect Kids’ Dental Care: Medi-Cal Dental Works

Dental pain is one of the most common—and most preventable—health problems for kids in our state. Yet California ranks near the bottom nationally for children’s oral health and access to care. 

• California ranks 47th in the nation for children with untreated cavities, with 15% of kids affected each year. 

• Fewer than half of children on Medi-Cal visit the dentist each year, well below the state’s own 60 percent target. 

• Ten counties in California have no Medi-Cal Dental provider at all, leaving families to travel hours or go without care. 

Dental Pain Keeps Kids Out of School 

When kids don’t see a dentist regularly, small problems turn into pain, infections, and missed school—hurting their health and their future. 

• 351,000 children missed school due to dental pain last year. Nearly 9 in 10 missed more than one day. 

• In a single year, California children miss a total of 869,000 days of school because of dental problems. 

• School districts lose an estimated $60 million in attendance-based funding. 

 Prop 56 Works 

Twenty years ago, California was nearly last in the nation for providing dental care to its most vulnerable children. So voters passed Proposition 56 to raise California’s reimbursement rate, enabling more dentists to participate in Medi-Cal dental. 

• Since 2017, the number of Medi-Cal Dental providers has increased by 34%, expanding access statewide. 

• School absences due to dental problems dropped by nearly 40% 

• More children are seeing a dentist regularly, thanks to improved provider participation.

Rolling back Prop 56 means fewer dentists, fewer visits, and fewer healthy kids. Protect Prop 56 funding for Medi-Cal dental. 

Visit Handsoffkidshealth.com to learn more and take action. 

HOKH Fact Sheet.pdf

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